Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Thornton vs Chichester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Chichester has the most expensive homes ($409k 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 | Thornton | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622Highest |
2,799 |
2,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7 8% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
| Thornton 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield and Chichester 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Chichester 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 3% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$109,297±$13kHighest 10% above NH |
| Chichester 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 7% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Chichester 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 11% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
| Chichester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344 5% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Chichester 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Thornton School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.