Compare towns
Auburn vs Brookline vs Milford vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Milford has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Townsend has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Auburn | Brookline | Milford | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
5,736Lowest |
16,337Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | Milford School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Milford High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.