Compare towns
Derry vs Sharon 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 renters (40.9% rent).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Sharon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
1,577Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Sharon 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% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±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±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k 18% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Derry and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 133% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Sharon School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.