 |
Community Contact |
Town of Chester Planning Department
Andrew Hadik, Town Planner
84 Chester St, Municipal Office Building
Chester, NH
03036
|
| Telephone |
(603) 887-3636 x105 |
| Fax |
Not Available |
| E-mail |
planning@chesternh.org |
| Web Site |
www.chesternh.org
|
| Municipal Office Hours |
Selectmen's Office: Monday to Friday, 8-4; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday and Wednesday, 8-2, Tuesday and Thursday, 10-6
|
| County |
Rockingham |
| Labor Market Area |
Nashua, NH-MA NECTA Division |
| Tourism Region |
Merrimack Valley |
| Planning Commission |
Southern NH |
| Regional Development |
Regional Economic Development Corp.
|
| Election Districts |
|
| US Congress |
District District 1 |
| Executive Council |
District District 3 |
| State Senate |
District District 23 |
| State Representative |
Rockingham County Districts 3, 31 |
| Incorporated: 1722 |
| Origin: Chester was first known as the chestnut country, and may have been the first of the settlement grants by the Governor of Massachusetts in 1722 for expansion of New Hampshire's seacoast settlements. Many new settlers were from Hampton, Newbury, Kingston, and Portsmouth, which were considered overcrowded. Settlers were required to plant, build houses, lay out roads, and construct a church and schoolhouse, or they would forfeit the land. The name Chester apparently came from Cheshire County in England, whose county seat is Chester, and Earl of Chester is a title held by the Prince of Wales. The towns of Auburn, Candia, Derryfield (renamed Manchester), Hooksett, and Raymond were later formed from Chester's original 100 square mile grant. |
| Villages and Place Names: North Chester
|
| Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,902 residents in 1790 |
| Population Trends: Population change for Chester totaled 3,853 over 50 years, from 1,382 in 1970 to 5,235 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Chester was 5,313 residents, which ranked 71st among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns. |
| Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 204.1 persons per square mile of land area. Chester contains 26.0 square miles of land area and 0.1 square miles of inland water area. |
| Municipal Services |
| Type of Government |
Selectmen |
| Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2021-2022 |
$8,354,686 |
| Budget: School Appropriations, 2020-2021 |
$12,839,917 |
| Zoning Ordinance |
1960/21 |
| Master Plan |
2015 |
| Capitol Improvement Plan |
Yes |
| Industrial Plans Reviewed By |
Planning Board |
| Boards and Commissions | |
| Elected: | Selectmen; Library; Budget; Cemetary; Road Agent |
| Appointed: | Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Recreation; Agriculture |
| Public Library |
Chester Public |
| Emergency Services |
| Police Department |
Full & part-time |
| Fire Department |
Full & part-time |
| Emergency Medical Service |
Municipal |
| Nearest Hospital(s) |
Distance |
Staffed Beds |
| Parkland Medical Center, Derry |
7 miles |
50 |
| Elliot Hospital, Manchester |
11 miles |
292 |
|
|
|
| Utilities |
| Electric Supplier |
Eversource Energy; NH Electric Coop |
| Natural Gas Supplier |
None |
| Water Supplier |
Private wells |
| Sanitation |
Private septic |
| Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant |
No |
| Solid Waste Disposal |
| Curbside Trash Pickup | Private |
| Pay-As-You-Throw Program | No |
| Recycling Program | Mandatory |
| Telephone Company |
Granite State; Consolidated Communications |
| Cellular Telephone Access |
Yes |
| Cable Television Access |
Yes |
| Public Access Television Station |
Yes |
| High Speed Internet Service: |
| Business | Yes |
| Residential | Yes |
| (NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes |
| 2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$21.40 |
| 2022 Equalization Ratio |
68.9 |
| 2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$14.43 |
| 2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type |
| Residential Land and Buildings | 91.4% |
| Commercial Land and Buildings | 1.9% |
| Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other | 6.7% |
| (ACS 2017-2021) Housing |
| Total Housing Units |
1,837 |
| Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached |
1,746 |
| Units in Multiple-Family Structures: |
|
| Two to Four Units in Structure |
64 |
| Five or More Units in Structure |
27 |
| Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units |
0 |
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial) |
| Total Population |
Community |
County |
| 2022 |
5,313 |
319,424 |
| 2020 |
5,232 |
314,176 |
| 2010 |
4,768 |
295,223 |
| 2000 |
3,863 |
278,748 |
| 1990 |
2,744 |
246,744 |
| 1980 |
2,006 |
190,345 |
| |
| Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 |
| Population by Gender |
| Male: 2,709 |
|
Female: 2,489 |
| Population by Age Group |
| Under age 5 |
|
269 |
| Age 5 to 19 |
|
968 |
| Age 20 to 34 |
|
799 |
| Age 35 to 54 |
|
1,353 |
| Age 55 to 64 |
|
1,109 |
| Age 65 and over |
|
700 |
| Median Age |
|
46.4 years |
| Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over |
|
3,603 |
| High school graduate or higher |
|
97.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher |
|
41.7% |
| (ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $ |
| Per capita income |
$50,043 |
| Median family income |
$137,167 |
| Median household income |
$131,635 |
| Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers |
| Male |
$88,571 |
| Female |
$66,595 |
| Individuals below the poverty level |
2.8% |
| (NHES - ELMI) Labor Force |
| Annual Average |
2012 |
2022 |
| Civilian Labor Force |
2,758 |
3,094 |
| Employed |
2,615 |
3,017 |
| Unemployed |
143 |
77 |
| Unemployment Rate |
5.2% |
2.5% |
| (NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages |
| Annual Average Covered Employment |
2012 |
2022 |
| Goods Producing Industries |
| Average Employment |
74 |
102 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$934 |
$1,299 |
| |
|
|
| Service Providing Industries |
| Average Employment |
215 |
180 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$745 |
$1,077 |
| |
|
|
| Total Private Industry |
| Average Employment |
289 |
282 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$793 |
$1,157 |
| |
|
|
| Government (Federal, State, and Local) |
| Average Employment |
168 |
176 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$586 |
$826 |
| |
|
|
| Total, Private plus Government |
| Average Employment |
456 |
458 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$717 |
$1,029 |
If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.
| (NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care |
| Schools students attend: |
Chester operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are tuitioned to Pinkerton Academy (Derry) |
SAU 82 |
| Career Technology Center(s): |
Pinkerton Academy Center for CTE |
| Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) |
Elementary |
Middle/Junior High |
High School |
Private/Parochial |
| Number of Schools |
1 |
|
|
2 |
| Grade Levels |
P K 1-8 |
|
|
9-12 |
| Total Enrollment |
502 |
|
|
154 |
| 2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): |
Total Facilities: 3 |
Total Capacity: 81 |
| Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester; Nashua |
| Nearest Colleges or Universities: Southern NH University; UNH-Manchester; Franklin Pierce-Manchester; MCPHS; St. Anselm; Thomas More; Rivier |
| Largest Businesses |
Product/Service |
Employees |
Established |
| Stone Machine Co., Inc. |
Machine shop |
30 |
1980 |
| Busche Academy |
Education |
20 |
2016 |
| Chester General Store |
Convenience store |
12 |
1950 |
| MLM Construction |
Residential construction |
10 |
1982 |
| G & P Pizzeria |
Restaurant |
20 |
1990 |
| Bittersweet Blessings |
Antique store |
6 |
2012 |
| Your Variety |
Convenience store |
10 |
1987 |
| Play Laugh N' Grow |
Daycare |
14 |
2014 |
| Like Nu Autobody |
Auto Repair |
5 |
1979 |
| Chester Forest Products |
Sawmill |
8 |
2014 |
Employer Information Supplied by Municipality
| (Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation |
| Road Access |
US Routes |
|
|
State Routes |
102, 121, 121A |
| Nearest Interstate, Exit |
I-93, Exit 4 |
|
Distance |
8 miles |
| Railroad |
No |
| Public Transportation |
CART |
| |
| Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation |
| Manchester-Boston Regional | Runway | 9,250 ft. asphalt |
| Lighted? |
Yes |
Navigational Aids? |
Yes |
| Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service |
| Manchester-Boston Regional |
Distance |
15 miles |
| Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport |
4 |
| |
| Driving distance to selected cities: |
| Manchester, NH |
14 miles |
| Portland, ME |
86 miles |
| Boston, MA |
49 miles |
| New York City, NY |
248 miles |
| Montreal, Quebec |
268 miles |
| (ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work |
| Workers 16 years and over |
3,119 |
| Drove alone, car/truck/van |
75.8% |
| Carpooled, car/truck/van |
6.5% |
| Public transportation |
0.4% |
| Walked |
0.9% |
| Other Means |
1.7% |
| Worked at home |
14.7% |
| Mean Travel Time to Work |
36.0 minutes |
| |
| Percent of Working Residents: |
(ACS 2017-2021) |
| Working in community of residence |
19.7% |
| Commuting to another NH community |
62.9% |
| Commuting out-of-state |
17.4% |
| Recreation, Attractions, and Events |
| Municipal Parks |
| YMCA/YWCA |
| Boys Club/Girls Club |
| Golf Courses |
| Swimming: Indoor Facility |
| Swimming: Outdoor Facility |
| Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility |
| Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility |
| Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility |
| Bowling Facilities |
| Museums |
| Cinemas |
| Performing Arts Facilities |
| Tourist Attractions |
| Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H) |
| Youth Sports: Baseball |
| Youth Sports: Soccer |
| Youth Sports: Football |
| Youth Sports: Basketball |
| Youth Sports: Hockey |
| Campgrounds |
| Fishing/Hunting |
| Boating/Marinas |
| Snowmobile Trails |
| Bicycle Trails |
| Cross Country Skiing |
| Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area |
| Overnight or Day Camps |
| |
|
|
Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre |
| |
|
|
Other: |
Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 7/12/23
All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.
