Compare towns
Brookline vs Atkinson vs Rochester 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Brookline | Atkinson | Rochester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
7,267 |
33,144Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Atkinson 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Rochester School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| 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.