Compare towns
Weare vs Hollis 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).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
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 | Hollis | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
8,603 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Hollis and Chester 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% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hollis 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Hollis and Chester 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 |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,598±$302Highest 7% above NH |
— |
| Hollis and Weare 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%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Hollis 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% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Weare 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.