Compare towns
Worcester vs Hampton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Worcester | Hampton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
16,426Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.