Compare towns
Strafford vs Hooksett vs Lee 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
Strafford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1985).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
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 | Hooksett | Lee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,576 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| 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%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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±$22k 23% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% 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 | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% 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 | $1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | — |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.