What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Fitzwilliam
People
Population	5,300Highest	2,278Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH	49.2±4.2Highest 14% above NH
	Fitzwilliam and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	15.1%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Chester and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%	27%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	2%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Chester and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH	$100,735±$11kLowest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH	$305,900±$34kLowest 24% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Highest 27% above NH	$5,173Lowest 22% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Fitzwilliam and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	94.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 31% above NH	39 minHighest 48% above NH
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.6%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Fitzwilliam and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#90 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Chester School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.