Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Chester | Hampton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
10,101Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Hampton 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% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Strafford 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 44% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Hampton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hampton 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.