Compare towns
Raymond vs Middlesex vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raymond has the most renters (14.2% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.
| Measure | Raymond | Middlesex | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,900Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Raymond 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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 30% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,400±$17kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,376±$196Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Raymond and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,146Lowest 97% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Raymond and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #96 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Raymond School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Raymond High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.