Compare towns
Chester vs Derby vs Hooksett
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 people working from home (14%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Derby | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Lowest |
4,537 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Derby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.