Compare towns
Chester vs Durham vs Brookline vs Sandown
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
15,080Highest |
5,736 |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Sandown 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% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Sandown 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 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 |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$483,400±$44kLowest 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±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$721 27% above NH |
| Brookline and Sandown 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% 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% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sandown 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% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.5% 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 |
1986 7 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 |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Brookline 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 | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Timberlane Regional 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.