What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

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	Waltham
People
Population	3,622Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.8±8.7Lowest 20% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham 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%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chesterfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.8%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waltham 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±$40kHighest 27% above U.S.	$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Chesterfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S.	$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average
	Chesterfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S.	$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Chesterfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,344Highest 103% above U.S.	$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chesterfield and Waltham 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%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.