Compare towns
Dummerston vs Sheldon vs Benson vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k 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 | Dummerston | Sheldon | Benson | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,267 |
784Lowest |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Benson and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.