Compare towns
Derry vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Meredith | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
6,758 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— |
| Derry and Meredith 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.