Compare towns
Weare vs Amesbury 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
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Weare | Amesbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
17,403Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amesbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Chester and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
— |
| Amesbury and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 101% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare and Amesbury 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Amesbury | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Amesbury High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.