Compare towns
Brookline vs Canaan vs Norwich
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%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Canaan | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
3,811 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Brookline 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% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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% |
19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canaan and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Brookline 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. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Norwich 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. |
$5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Norwich 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% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brookline School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.