Compare towns
Derry vs Laconia 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 youngest population (median age 41).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Laconia | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
17,085 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Laconia 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% |
18.4%±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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 9% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Laconia 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% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Laconia School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.