What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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	Westford
People
Population	3,622Highest	2,290Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S.	44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Chesterfield and Westford 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%	16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chesterfield and Westford 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%	17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,370±$40kLowest 27% above U.S.	$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Westford 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 12% above U.S.	$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S.
	Westford 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 6% below U.S.	$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S.
	Westford and Chesterfield 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.	$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chesterfield and Westford 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%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westford 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	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.