Compare towns
Hancock vs Middlesex 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
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Chesterfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hancock | Middlesex | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
1,943 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,344Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.