Compare towns
Brookline vs Durham vs Chester 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Durham | Chester | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
15,080Highest |
5,300Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 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% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Auburn 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Brookline and Auburn 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.