Compare towns
Chester vs Ossipee vs Raymond
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%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Raymond has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Ossipee | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,521Lowest |
10,900Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
43.4±3.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Ossipee 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Raymond 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Raymond 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 |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$104,597±$10k 6% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$370,400±$17k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,376±$196Lowest 8% below NH |
| Ossipee and Raymond 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 |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,146 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±11.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Raymond 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #96 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Raymond School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Raymond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.