What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Laurens has the most people working from home (11.8%).

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	Laurens
People
Population	2,492Highest	2,274Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.2±5.3Lowest 9% above NY	44±8.9Highest 11% above NY
	Laurens and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	19%±4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chesterfield and Laurens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.1%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Laurens and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	30.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±6.7Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Chesterfield and Laurens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,278±$24kLowest 24% below NY	$72,404±$8kHighest 16% below NY
	Laurens and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$142,900±$49kLowest 66% below NY	$170,000±$19kHighest 60% below NY
	Laurens and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,114±$43Lowest 31% below NY	$1,134±$250Highest 30% below NY
	Laurens and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,071Lowest 69% below NY	$3,225Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±20.7Highest NY: 52.1%	31.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	18.5%Highest NY: 14%	10.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 17 yrs newer than NY	1976 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	26 minHighest 21% below NY
Work from home	3.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NY 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.