Compare towns
Raymond vs Chester vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raymond has the most affordable homes ($370k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Raymond | Chester | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,900Highest |
5,300Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.8 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Chester and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Raymond and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,597±$10kLowest 6% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,400±$17kLowest 8% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,376±$196Lowest 8% below NH |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,146Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±11.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Plaistow 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 | #96 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Raymond School District | Chester School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Raymond High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.