Compare towns
Strafford vs Windsor 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
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
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 | Windsor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
2,060Lowest |
5,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Lowest 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% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%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% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest 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±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% 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. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Windsor 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | Chester School District |
| High school 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.