Compare towns
Weare vs Somersworth 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%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Somersworth | New Ipswich | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
12,111Highest |
5,310 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Somersworth 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
— |
| 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 |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%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 |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older 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 |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Somersworth School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.