Compare towns
Brookline vs Pembroke vs Chester
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%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Pembroke | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
7,438Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Chester 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% 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 |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
— |
| Brookline and Pembroke 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 |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Pembroke School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.