Compare towns
Chester vs South Hooksett vs Strafford vs Gilmanton
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 the most expensive homes ($552k median).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k 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.
| Measure | Chester | South Hooksett | Strafford | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
5,902Highest |
4,306 |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| Chester and Strafford 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Strafford 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
| Chester and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Strafford and South Hooksett 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 |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Strafford School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.