Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Middlesex vs Plainfield
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 kids (21.5% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622Highest |
1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Plainfield 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Plainfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.