Compare towns
Brookline vs Chester vs Brentwood vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Brentwood has the most affordable homes ($528k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Brookline | Chester | Brentwood | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
5,300 |
4,641Lowest |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Brentwood 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 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+ | 57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$528,100±$75kLowest 31% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— | $2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
| Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Chester School District | Brentwood School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.