Compare towns
Strafford vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
8,606Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chester 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Nashoba | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.