Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Grantham vs Thornton vs Dummerston
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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Grantham | Thornton | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,622Highest |
3,465 |
2,799 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Grantham 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% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Chesterfield 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. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
— | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston 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. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Grantham School District | Thornton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.