What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).

Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Chester
People
Population	5,736Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
Kids under 18	26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Brookline and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Chester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Brookline and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH	$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
	Chester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1k 68% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$8,464Lowest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Brookline and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH	1991Lowest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Brookline 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	#23 of 120 in NH	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Brookline School District	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.