Compare towns
Chester vs Brookline vs Raymond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Raymond has the most affordable homes ($370k median).
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 | Chester | Brookline | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
5,736 |
10,900Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.4±3.8 about the NH average |
| Chester and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.6Lowest 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Raymond and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$104,597±$10kLowest 6% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$370,400±$17kLowest 8% below 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 |
$1,376±$196Lowest 8% below NH |
| Brookline and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,146Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±11.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Raymond and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #96 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Brookline School District | Raymond School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Raymond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.