Compare towns
Brentwood vs South Hooksett vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Brentwood | South Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,641Lowest |
5,902Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Brentwood and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
— |
| Brentwood and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Chester 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.