Compare towns
Sandown vs Chester vs Danville vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% 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 | Sandown | Chester | Danville | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628 |
5,300 |
4,531Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42±4 3% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Chester and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.6%±7 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Danville and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$115,104±$21k 16% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Chester and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$437,600±$26k 9% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Chester and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721 27% above NH |
— | $2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Danville and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,504 28% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
70.2%±61.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Danville and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
97.4% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
35 min 30% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #40 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Chester School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.