Compare towns
Chester vs Hooksett vs Rindge
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 expensive homes ($552k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Rindge has the youngest population (median age 35).
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 | Rindge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
35±3.9Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.2%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rindge 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rindge 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% |
31.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
18.3%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$102,679±$20kLowest 4% 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 |
$415,400±$35k 3% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,123±$60Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.1%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Rindge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
84.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rindge 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #50 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Hooksett School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative 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.