What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Hudson
People
Population	5,300Lowest	25,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH	45.7±1.9Lowest 6% above NH
	Chester and Hudson 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%	16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Chester and Hudson 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%	20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hudson 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%	34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
	Hudson 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±$19kHighest 44% above NH	$124,213±$6kLowest 25% above NH
	Chester and Hudson 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	$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,735±$123 16% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Highest 27% above NH	$6,636Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	34.3%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hudson and Chester 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%	4.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	31 minLowest 18% above NH
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hudson 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	#63 of 120 in NH
School district	Chester School District	Hudson School District
High school in town	None in town	Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.