Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton Falls 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 Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 Falls | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
2,328Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hampton Falls 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% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Hampton Falls School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.