Compare towns
Chester vs Hooksett vs Kingston
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Hooksett | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Chester and 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Chester and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hooksett and Kingston 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Kingston 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.