What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).

Colchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chesterfield	Colchester
People
Population	3,622Lowest	17,648Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S.	39.3±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average
	Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chesterfield and Colchester 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%	17.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S.	$97,891±$9kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,500±$33kLowest 12% above U.S.	$394,400±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Colchester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S.	$1,474±$122Highest 4% above U.S.
	Colchester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,344Highest 103% above U.S.	$5,471Lowest 75% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.2%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colchester 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	#18 of 70 in VT
School district	Chesterfield School District	Colchester School District
High school in town	None in town	Colchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.