Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Chester vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | South Hooksett | Chester | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902Highest |
5,300 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.