What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Deering	Chester
People
Population	1,938Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH	47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH
	Deering and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Chester and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,306±$116 12% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,223Lowest 7% below NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.9%±27.6Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Deering and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 49% above NH	35 minLowest 31% above NH
Work from home	10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Chester and Deering 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
School district	—	Chester School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.