Compare towns
Chester vs Mapleton vs Union vs Strafford
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Mapleton | Union | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Chester and Strafford 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Chester and Strafford 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Union 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Union 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 | — | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.