What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).

Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Braintree	Rollinsford
People
Population	1,026Lowest	2,626Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S.	38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rollinsford and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rollinsford and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average	$89,500±$26kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Rollinsford and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S.	$398,100±$33kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.	$6,851Highest 120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Braintree and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rollinsford and Braintree 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	—	#94 of 120 in NH
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Rollinsford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.