Compare towns
Weare vs Hillsborough vs Somersworth 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 people working from home (22.8%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Weare | Hillsborough | Somersworth | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
5,980 |
12,111Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% 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% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Chester 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 19% above NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| 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±$26k about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
— |
| Weare and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Hillsborough 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Chester 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.