Compare towns

Brookline vs Barnstead vs Brentwood

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Brentwood has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureBrooklineBarnsteadBrentwood
People
Population
5,736Highest
4,994
4,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7%
NH: +4.6%
+0.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
43.8±3.1Highest
about the NH average
Brentwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±4.1
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
21.8%±3.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Brentwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
49%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9
NH: 6%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Brookline and Barnstead 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
73% above NH
$111,660±$12kLowest
13% above NH
$165,509±$23k
67% above NH
Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38kHighest
35% above NH
$362,400±$25kLowest
10% below NH
$528,100±$75k
31% above NH
Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
$1,395±$75Lowest
6% below NH
$2,217±$654
49% above NH
Brookline and Brentwood 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 50% above NH
$6,003Lowest
10% below NH
$9,713
46% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
63.9%±37.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
Brentwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%
NH: 72.8%
93.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993
14 yrs newer than NH
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1995Highest
16 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above NH
31 min
16% above NH
28 minLowest
4% above NH
Work from home
24.7%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
23.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
Brookline and Brentwood 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 #111 of 120 in NH #16 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District Barnstead School District Brentwood School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 6 photos →

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.