Compare towns
Chester vs Durham vs Brookline vs Dunbarton
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 most homeowners (97.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
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 | Brookline | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,080Highest |
5,736 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Chester 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Dunbarton 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%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% 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 | — | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dunbarton 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Dunbarton 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.