Compare towns
Brookline vs Durham vs North Hampton
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
10,681Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Brookline and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Brookline and North Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | — | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 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.