Compare towns
Strafford vs Dedham 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
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Strafford | Dedham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
25,237Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dedham | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.