Compare towns
Sandown vs Hooksett vs Jaffrey 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
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Sandown | Hooksett | Jaffrey | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628 |
15,057Highest |
5,448 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Sandown 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Jaffrey 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% 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±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
— |
| Sandown and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 21.3 |
— |
| 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.