Compare towns
Brookfield vs Strafford vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
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 | Brookfield | Strafford | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
4,306Highest |
1,595 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Middleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31kLowest 18% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$101,696±$8k about the NH average |
| Strafford and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 6% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Brookfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,500±$293Lowest about the NH average |
| Strafford and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926 11% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 76.3%±30.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 min 34% above NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Middleton 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.