Compare towns
Chester vs Rollinsford vs Derry
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%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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.
| Measure | Chester | Rollinsford | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
2,626Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest 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% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 44% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Derry 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Chester 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Rollinsford School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.