Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Middlesex vs Wilton
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622 |
1,943Lowest |
3,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
22%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest 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% |
4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Wilton 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Middlesex 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. |
$381,500±$23kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,382±$70Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wilton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Wilton 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.