Compare towns
Chester vs Durham vs Brentwood
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Chester | Durham | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,080Highest |
4,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Chester and Brentwood 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Chester and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.