What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most affordable homes ($552k median).

South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k 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	South Hampton
People
Population	5,300Highest	984Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH	45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH
	Chester and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%
	South Hampton 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%	16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Chester and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	52.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Chester and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH	$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH
	South Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH	$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,889±$489 27% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Lowest 27% above NH	$9,109Highest 37% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	30%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	South Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	28 minLowest 6% above NH
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	South Hampton 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	—
School district	Chester School District	South Hampton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.