Compare towns
Chester vs Windham vs Strafford
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Windham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
16,038Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% 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%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Windham School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.