Compare towns
Derry vs Fitzwilliam vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k 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 | Fitzwilliam | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
2,278Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
49.2±4.2Highest 14% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Fitzwilliam and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 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 | $91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$100,735±$11k about the NH average |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$305,900±$34kLowest 24% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 9% above NH |
$5,173Lowest 22% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above NH |
39 minHighest 48% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Fitzwilliam 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Monadnock Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.