Compare towns
Derry vs Keene vs Mapleton 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
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Keene | Mapleton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,339 |
22,939Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Mapleton 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Mapleton 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% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k 18% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 133% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Keene School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.