Rural Chester has access to nearby towns
Chester, 6 miles from Derry, is a town in Rockingham County with a rural environment and access to major roadways. Chester has two major roadways running through it: State Route 102, which runs east and west, and State Route 121, which runs north and south. It also has access to Interstates 93 and 95. “Specifically for Chester, people like the affordability with proximity to some of the other, bigger towns, without the price increase,” says Heather Hanlon, a Realtor who sells in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Hanlon has 8 years of experience in the real estate industry. “If you’re looking for land, it’s a good option.” The area has rolling hills and acres of old farmland and trees, with a few shops in the center of town. While Chester remains mainly rural, several housing communities are being built, leading to more growth in the area.
Homes on large lots
Most homes in Chester are in the central part of town along State Routes 102 and 121. Owing to the fact that the town’s economy was largely agricultural for much of its early existence, houses here are typically on large lots of old farmland. "One of the homes I sold had leftover orchard trees," says Hanlon. "They may have been for personal use or part of a larger orchard. We don't know. There's lots of farmland and lots of old houses on farmland." Most homes are in the Colonial Revival style and range from $375,000 to $775,000, while townhouses and condos range from $395,000 to $600,000. New single-family and condo communities are in the process of being built. These homes are in the New Traditional style, and new single-family homes range from $800,000 to over $1.4 million. Townhouses and condos range from $615,000 to $835,000.
Students attend schools in Chester and Derry
Chester School District SAU 82 serves the area, and children may attend Chester Academy, which receives a C-plus from Niche, for kindergarten through eighth grade. Students can continue to the private Pinkerton Academy in Derry, which also gets a C-plus, for high school. Chester is a sending town for Pinkerton, meaning that students attend the school free of charge, as New Hampshire’s Town Tuitioning Program covers the cost. Pinkerton Academy has over 60 student clubs, including art, skiing and a literary magazine.
Commuters use State Routes 102 and 101
Using State Route 102, commuters can head west to reach Derry in about 12 minutes or east to reach Raymond, 9 miles away, in 15 minutes. Using State Route 101, residents can typically get to the coast in less than 40 minutes. Using Interstate 93, commuters may head south into Lawrence, Massachusetts, about 25 miles away. Residents can also access the Cooperative Alliance for Regional Transportation (CART), a ride-request service that serves Southern New Hampshire. CART takes residents to Manchester, 13 miles north, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “People wouldn’t go into Manchester unless it was for something specific,” notes Hanlon.
The Parkland Medical Center is 7 miles west in Derry along State Route 102, and the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is 17 miles north. Several houses of worship are in the area, such as the nearly 300-year-old Chester Congregational Baptist Church, the Christ Covenant Church and the Fellowship Bible Church.
Horseback riding and swimming in Chester
Horseback riding is a popular pastime in the area, and several area horse farms offer lessons, boarding and training. The Wason Pond Conservation and Recreation Area has a beach and baseball fields for pick-up games, and hiking trails encircle the pond. There is also a playground in the area, along with a small beach area, and leashed dogs are welcome. Fishing is allowed on the pond, but no motorized boats are permitted, and ATVs, snowmobiles and motorcycles are prohibited in the conservation area. Near Chester Academy is the Chester Skatepark, which has a basketball, baseball and soccer field, and a skatepark. Just outside Chester is the Hidden Valley RV & Golf Park, 7 miles away, which is a campground with a swimming pool and an 18-hole golf course that is open to the public. In the summer, many head to North Hampton State Beach, 31 miles away, to swim, boat, camp and hike.
Shopping and dining along State Route 121 and Derry
Along State Route 121, the Olde Post Restaurant offers American comfort food in a rustic setting. Next door, Center Scoop is a locally owned ice cream shop serving soft serve and specialty ice creams. Also along Route 121 is the Chester General store, which sells groceries and has a deli and house-made take-and-bake pizzas. The Hazelton Orchards is a farm stand selling seasonal fruits, fruit products and vegetables. For groceries and more shopping and dining, residents head into Derry, which has several strip malls lining Manchester Road, including the Derry Meadows Shoppes, which has a Hannaford. Also in Derry, shoppers will find a Dollar Tree and a Walmart Supercenter, as well as other big-box retailers and chain restaurants.
Events at the Chester Public Library
The Chester Public Library hosts events throughout the year, including several book clubs and DIY art events. The library also partners with local organizations to host events like the Annual Community Pet Show in July, when residents can show off their furry family members. In August, residents set up yard sales outside their homes for Chester's Town-Wide Yard Sale, which helps fund the library’s programming.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
