Compare towns
Derry vs Hingham 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 affordable homes ($391k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Hingham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339 |
24,283Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest 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±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Lowest 133% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,464 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hingham | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.