What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

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

Measure	Chester	Somersworth
People
Population	5,300Lowest	12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Somersworth and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Chester and Somersworth 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%	31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Somersworth 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	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,477±$134 about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Highest 27% above NH	$6,805Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Somersworth and Chester 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%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Chester and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Chester School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	None in town	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.