Compare towns
Brookline vs Auburn vs Newfields 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 the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Brookline | Auburn | Newfields | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
6,119 |
2,023Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Auburn 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. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Newfields 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% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Newfields 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Auburn School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.