Compare towns
Derry vs Lyndeborough 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 renters (40.9% rent).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Lyndeborough | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
1,616Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
— |
| Derry and Lyndeborough 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 |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.