Compare towns
Derry vs Hermon 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).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Hermon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
6,727 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Hermon 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% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon 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% |
20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hermon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Hermon 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 14% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k 18% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,406±$202Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Derry and Hermon 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. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Hermon 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hermon Public Schools | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.