Compare towns
Derry vs Berwick vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k 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.
| Measure | Derry | Berwick | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
1,998Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $91,673±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k 18% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Derry and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 133% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Highest 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.