Compare towns

Chesterfield vs Dummerston vs Mapleton 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 expensive homes ($374k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.

MeasureChesterfieldDummerstonMapletonThornton
People
Population
3,622Highest
2,090
1,884Lowest
2,799
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±8.7
20% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% 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%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton 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.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$90,022±$17kLowest
12% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$373,500±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$351,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Thornton 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.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,270±$428
10% below U.S.
Dummerston 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.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$5,032
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
18.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.8%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thornton and Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Thornton School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.