Compare towns
Chester vs Exeter vs Brookline
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).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Chester and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 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 | — | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.