Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Calais vs Thornton
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 most renters (16.4% rent).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Chesterfield 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% 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% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above 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. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above 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 |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% 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. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thornton School District |
| 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.