Compare towns
Brookline vs Chester vs Brentwood vs Hopkinton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
5,300 |
4,641Lowest |
6,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% 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 |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
| Chester and Hopkinton 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% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest 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% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$137,477±$21kLowest 39% 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±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$506,900±$54kLowest 26% 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±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— | $2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below 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 |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Hopkinton 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%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 |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Chester School District | Brentwood School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.