Compare towns
Brookline vs Chester vs Durham
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 people working from home (24.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
5,300Lowest |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% 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 |
— | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham 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 |
$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% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Brookline 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #9 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 | 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.