Compare towns
Chester vs Lee vs Townsend
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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Lee | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,576Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Townsend 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Townsend 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. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 171% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.