Compare towns
Carlisle vs Hampton vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the most expensive homes ($1104k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Chelmsford has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Carlisle | Hampton | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239Lowest |
16,426 |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chelmsford and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$8,047 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.