What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).

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	Colchester	Chesterfield
People
Population	17,648Highest	3,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average	46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S.
	Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,891±$9kLowest 21% above U.S.	$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,400±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.	$373,500±$33kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Colchester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$122Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S.
	Colchester and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,471Lowest 75% above U.S.	$6,344Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chesterfield and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colchester 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	#18 of 70 in VT	#52 of 120 in NH
School district	Colchester School District	Chesterfield School District
High school in town	Colchester High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
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.