Compare towns
Weare vs Durham 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
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
15,080Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— |
| Weare and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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 NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 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.