Compare towns
Brookline vs Canaan vs Stratham 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%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Canaan | Stratham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
3,811Lowest |
7,754 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Canaan 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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 |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Stratham 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. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brookline 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% 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% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Stratham 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.