Compare towns
Chester vs Hanover vs Derry
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%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
11,685 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Chester 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Chester 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Derry 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% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.