Compare towns
Brookline vs Chester vs Townsend vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 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 | Townsend | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
5,300 |
9,100Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Lee 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 112% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| 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 77% above U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Townsend 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,464 171% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Chester School District | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
U.S. 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.