What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k 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.

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

Measure	New Durham	Chester
People
Population	2,748Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NH	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Chester and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	New Durham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$116 5% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,774Lowest 13% below NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±42.7Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	New Durham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 30% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	10%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Chester and New Durham 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	Governor Wentworth Regional 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.