Town guide

Chester, New Hampshire

Chester is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, home to about 5,300 people across 26 square miles. Its ZIP code is 03036.

Homes sold for a median of $298 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.

Population5,300204 per sq mi
Median home value$552,300Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$298Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking29%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Chester

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Chester. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Chester guide is on the way

We’re writing up Chester’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

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Around Chester

Distances

Nearest major airportBoston Logan International Airport (BOS)44 miles away
Closer regional airportManchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)10 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Boston, MA45 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+New York, NY211 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Chester; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Chester

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Chester had 5,232 residents in the 2020 census, up 38% since 2000.

It’s the 71st largest of 242 towns in New Hampshire by population.

Rockingham County grew from 51,118 residents in 1900 to 314,176 in 2020.

Chester population by census2000: 3,792, 2010: 4,768, 2020: 5,2323,79220004,76820105,2322020

Rockingham County, 1900–2020

Rockingham County population, 1900 to 20201900: 51,118, 1910: 52,188, 1920: 52,498, 1930: 53,750, 1940: 58,142, 1950: 70,059, 1960: 99,029, 1970: 138,951, 1980: 190,345, 1990: 245,845, 2000: 277,359, 2010: 295,223, 2020: 314,17651K’00’1052K’20’3058K’40’5099K’60’70190K’80’90277K’00’10314K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 15°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 76 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near ChesterJan: high 34°F, low 15°F, 3 in; Feb: high 37°F, low 16°F, 3.3 in; Mar: high 45°F, low 24°F, 4.2 in; Apr: high 57°F, low 34°F, 4.1 in; May: high 68°F, low 44°F, 4 in; Jun: high 76°F, low 54°F, 4 in; Jul: high 82°F, low 60°F, 3.6 in; Aug: high 80°F, low 58°F, 3.7 in; Sep: high 73°F, low 51°F, 4 in; Oct: high 61°F, low 39°F, 4.9 in; Nov: high 49°F, low 30°F, 3.7 in; Dec: high 39°F, low 21°F, 4.2 in34°15°Jan3.037°16°Feb3.345°24°Mar4.257°34°Apr4.168°44°May4.076°54°Jun4.082°60°Jul3.680°58°Aug3.773°51°Sep4.061°39°Oct4.949°30°Nov3.739°21°Dec4.2Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, W Hampstead, NH weather station (4 miles away).

Jobs in Rockingham County

152,257 jobs at 10,266 businesses in Rockingham County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Rockingham CountyRetail trade: 25,649 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 18,619 jobs; Manufacturing: 18,400 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 16,453 jobs; Construction: 10,633 jobs; Professional services: 10,150 jobs; Administrative and support: 8,140 jobs; Wholesale trade: 8,052 jobsRetail trade 17% Health care and social assistance 12% Manufacturing 12% Hotels and restaurants 11% Construction 7% Professional services 7% Administrative and support 5% Wholesale trade 5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

11 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Chester.

Nearest hospitals

  • Parkland Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Derry7.3 miles
  • Elliot HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Manchester9.6 miles
  • Catholic Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Manchester12.4 miles

Providers with an office here

Dentists1
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants1
Mental health providers3
Physical and occupational therapists5
Chiropractors1

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Chester

Parks (1 nearby)

  • Edward C. Garvey Recreation Facility · 7 acres2.7 mi

Grocery stores

  • Walmart Supercenter6.1 mi
  • Hannaford6.4 mi
  • Hannaford6.6 mi
  • Shaw's6.6 mi

Pharmacies

  • Walmart Pharmacy6.1 mi
  • Hannaford Pharmacy6.4 mi
  • Walgreens6.5 mi
  • Osco Pharmacy6.6 mi

Libraries (1 nearby)

  • Chester Public Library1.0 mi

Museums

  • Sandown Historical Society & Museum4.0 mi
  • Polk Library5.5 mi
  • Raymond Historical Society5.7 mi
  • Derry Museum of History7.4 mi

Theaters and performance venues

  • Stockbridge Theater6.0 mi
  • Adams Memorial Opera House7.4 mi

Counts are within about 3.5 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Schools in Chester

Public schools here are run by Chester School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (1)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Chester AcademyChesterPre-K–8508Public0.7 mi
Private schools (1)
SchoolGradesStudentsAffiliationDistance
Busche AcademyChester9–12120Nonsectarian0.9 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Towns near Chester

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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.