Compare towns
Brookline vs Deerfield vs Keene
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 the highest household income ($171k).
Deerfield has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 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 | Deerfield | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,932Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Deerfield 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Deerfield 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% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Brookline and Deerfield 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 |
$7,369 11% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Brookline 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Deerfield School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.