Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Calais vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Chesterfield | Calais | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622 |
1,713Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Calais and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Calais and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344 103% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest 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 | 8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Chesterfield 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.