Compare towns
Chester vs Newfields vs Derry vs Strafford
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%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Newfields | Derry | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
2,023Lowest |
34,116Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Newfields and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #60 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Newfields School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.