Compare towns
Strafford vs Lawrence 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
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
88,736Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Lawrence and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Strafford 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Lawrence | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.