Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs South Hooksett
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 the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
16,426Highest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Chester and South Hooksett 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 |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% 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 | — | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Hampton and South Hooksett 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and South Hooksett 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.