What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).

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	Northwood	Chester
People
Population	4,688Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Chester and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Northwood and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,375±$23kLowest 31% above NH	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
	Chester and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,201±$372 19% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,806Lowest 13% below NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.7%±29.2Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Northwood and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 37% above NH	35 minLowest 31% above NH
Work from home	18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Northwood 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	#24 of 120 in NH	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District	Chester School District
High school in town	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
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.