Compare towns
Brookline vs Deerfield vs Nottingham 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 highest household income ($171k).
Deerfield has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Nottingham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,932Lowest |
5,357 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.8±4.2Highest 10% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Nottingham 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% |
17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nottingham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Nottingham 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. |
$131,563±$10k 63% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20k 51% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$421,000±$33kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$2,068±$1k 46% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Nottingham 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. |
$7,369 136% above U.S. |
$7,319 135% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Townsend 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Deerfield School District | Nottingham 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.