Compare towns
Derry vs Standish 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).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Standish | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
10,662 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Standish 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% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k 18% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 10% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— |
| Derry and Standish 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Derry 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.