Compare towns
Derry vs Windham vs Keene 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Windham | Keene | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,339 |
16,038 |
22,939Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 9% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Keene School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.