Compare towns
Chester vs Manchester vs Derry
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Manchester | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
115,643Highest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Manchester 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Derry 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 |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Manchester and Derry 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Derry 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
13.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.