Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Ellsworth vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Ellsworth has the oldest population (median age 61.8).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Ellsworth | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622Highest |
51Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7Lowest 8% above NH |
61.8±13.1Highest 43% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Ellsworth and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±59.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±7.3 NH: 20.1% |
39.2%±46.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ellsworth and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% NH: 40.6% |
25%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4 NH: 6% |
0%±33.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Chesterfield 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 3% above NH |
$89,375±$39kLowest 10% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,500±$33kHighest 7% below NH |
$350,000±$170kLowest 13% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| 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±$1kHighest 11% below NH |
— | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344Highest 5% below NH |
$3,813Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
— | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±26.3 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Ellsworth 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 | — | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.