What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madbury	Chester
People
Population	2,203Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Madbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Chester and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH	$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH
	Madbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759 6% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$8,464Lowest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Chester and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Chester and Madbury 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	—	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Oyster River Coop 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

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.