Chesterfield

Cheshire County•Monadnock Region•Population: 3,552

Overview

Chesterfield is a rural town in Cheshire County near the Vermont border, home to Spofford Lake, one of the region's more popular swimming and boating destinations. The town's rolling hills and farmland give it a classic Monadnock Region character.

Spofford Lake draws summer visitors and seasonal residents, while the town's proximity to Keene provides access to a larger city's retail and job market. Chesterfield's rural roads connect several small villages without a dominant commercial center.

Housing in Chesterfield ranges from lakefront cottages to rural inland homes, with prices reflecting proximity to Spofford Lake. The town draws families, retirees, and seasonal homeowners seeking Monadnock Region lake access near Keene.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Lake access
•Near Keene
•Rural character
•Scenic beauty

✗ Cons

•Seasonal crowds
•Limited services
•Rural roads

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Chesterfield.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$21.65

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$13.27

Equalization ratio: 61%

Municipal

$4.65

Local School

$12.05

State Education

$1.57

County

$3.38

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$21.65	$13.27	$4.65	$12.05	$1.57	$3.38

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$5,413	$451
$350,000	$7,577	$631
$500,000	$10,825	$902
$750,000	$16,237	$1,353
$1,000,000	$21,650	$1,804

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $21.65 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

79.7°F

Winter Avg High

35.9°F

Annual Snowfall

52.7 in

Annual Rainfall

50.6 in

Sunny Days/Year

269

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

111 mi

~146 min drive

Manchester

76 mi

~111 min drive

Portsmouth

118 mi

~160 min drive

Concord

63 mi

~101 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score

9/10

Crime Rate

5.91/1,000

Crime Trend

stable

Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer / NH Department of Safety UCR Reports • Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

40/100

Trail Miles

27.0

Boat Launches

State Parks

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:4 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$109,500

Per Capita Income

$50,439

Median Family Income

$125,865

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$275,800

Median Rent

$933/mo

Homeownership Rate

89.82%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

6.51%

In Labor Force

1,936

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

19.9%

Total with Degree

536

👥Demographics

Median Age

45.2 years

Avg Household Size

2.62 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Chesterfield