Compare towns
Wells vs Chesterfield vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Wells | Chesterfield | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
3,622Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Chesterfield School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.