Compare towns
Chester vs Kittery vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Kittery | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
10,473 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Chester and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Kittery 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 76% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Kittery Public Schools | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.