Compare towns
Chester vs Gray vs Raymond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Gray has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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.
| Measure | Chester | Gray | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
8,429 |
10,900Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.4±3.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Chester and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Chester 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 76% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$104,597±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$370,400±$17k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,376±$196Highest about the U.S. average |
| Raymond and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,146 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #96 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Raymond School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Raymond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.