What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Strafford 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chesterfield	Strafford
People
Population	3,622Lowest	4,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.8±8.7Highest 8% above NH	46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH
	Chesterfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Chesterfield and Strafford 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%	19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Chesterfield and Strafford 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%	40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Strafford 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±$40kLowest 3% above NH	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH
	Strafford 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±$33kLowest 7% below NH	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH
	Strafford and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$1kLowest 11% below NH	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH
	Strafford and Chesterfield 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	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	76.3%±30.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Chesterfield and Strafford 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%	8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	18.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%	15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Chesterfield and Strafford 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	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Chesterfield School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.