What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterfield has the highest household income ($102k).

Lincoln has the most renters (28% rent).

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	Lincoln
People
Population	3,622Highest	1,461Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.8±8.7 8% above NH	46.8±10.1 8% above NH
Kids under 18	21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	19.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Chesterfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.8%±7.3Highest NH: 20.1%	28.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Chesterfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	1.6%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
	Lincoln 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	$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH
	Chesterfield and Lincoln 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	$342,000±$38kLowest 15% below NH
	Chesterfield and Lincoln 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	$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH
	Chesterfield and Lincoln 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	$2,984Lowest 55% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	49.7%±26Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Chesterfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	72%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1986Highest 7 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%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±8.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Chesterfield and Lincoln 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	—
School district	Chesterfield School District	Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Lin-Wood Public School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.