Compare towns
Raymond vs Ossipee 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
Raymond has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.
| Measure | Raymond | Ossipee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,900Highest |
4,521Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.8Lowest about the NH average |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Ossipee and Chester 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% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee 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% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest 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±$10k 6% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,400±$17k 8% below NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,376±$196Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— |
| Ossipee and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,146 8% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±11.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Raymond 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Raymond School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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 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.