What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).

Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Brookline
People
Population	5,300Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH	41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	26.7%±4Highest 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+	17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	11.4%±2.1Lowest 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+	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	6.3%±3.2Highest 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	$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH	$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH	$544,400±$38kLowest 35% 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±$1k 68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Lowest 27% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	23.8%±43.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	Brookline and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest NH: 7.2%	0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	95.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Lowest 12 yrs newer than NH	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	33 minLowest 25% above NH
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	24.7%±5.8Highest 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	#90 of 120 in NH	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Chester School District	Brookline School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.