Compare towns

Chesterfield vs Middlesex vs Williston

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 oldest population (median age 46.8).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureChesterfieldMiddlesexWilliston
People
Population
3,622
1,943Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±8.7Highest
20% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2Lowest
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%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Chesterfield and Williston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,370±$40kLowest
27% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$373,500±$33kLowest
12% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,324±$1kLowest
6% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,344
103% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Chesterfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
18.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Chesterfield School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.