Compare towns
Derry vs Hampton Beach 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 affordable homes ($391k median).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
2,605Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest 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±$11k 7% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
— |
| Derry and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 9% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.