Compare towns
Weare vs Plymouth vs New Ipswich 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%).
Plymouth has the shortest commute (18 min average).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | New Ipswich | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
6,601 |
5,310 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Weare 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3 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% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
— |
| Weare and Plymouth 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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and New Ipswich 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% 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 |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.7 |
— |
| 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.