What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most people working from home (16.4%).

Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% 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.

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

Measure	Chester	Merrimac
People
Population	5,300Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S.	49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chester and Merrimac 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%	26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Merrimac 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 U.S.: 35.7%	41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Merrimac 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.	$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S.
	Chester and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,300±$42kLowest 66% above U.S.	$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,352±$325 4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Highest 171% above U.S.	$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimac and Chester 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%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester and Merrimac 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	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Chester School District	Pentucket
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.