Compare towns
Chester vs Wolfeboro vs Derry
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Wolfeboro | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
6,571 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Chester and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.