Compare towns
Chester vs Wilder vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Wilder | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,087Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Chester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Derry 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 76% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Derry and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Derry 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.