Compare towns

Chester vs Ogunquit vs Derry

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 the highest household income ($142k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% 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.

MeasureChesterOgunquitDerry
People
Population
5,300
1,379Lowest
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±3.8
21% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.3±1.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Derry and Chester 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.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$108,944±$7kLowest
35% above U.S.
Chester and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,300±$42k
66% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$432,000±$17kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,547±$138
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,464Highest
171% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$8,103
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19%±72.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #90 of 120 in NH — #60 of 120 in NH
School district Chester School District — Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town None in town — Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.