Compare towns
Madbury vs Manchester 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
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Madbury | Manchester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
115,643Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Manchester 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Chester 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 |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$142,212±$19k 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±$31k 18% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
— |
| Madbury and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Manchester 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 | — | #115 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.