Compare towns

Calais vs Chesterfield vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Chesterfield has the most renters (16.4% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureCalaisChesterfieldMiddlesex
People
Population
1,713Lowest
3,622Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
46.8±8.7Highest
20% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chesterfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27kLowest
25% above U.S.
$102,370±$40k
27% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$373,500±$33kLowest
12% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,324±$1kLowest
6% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$6,344Lowest
103% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Chesterfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Calais 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 — #52 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Chesterfield School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.