Compare towns
Brookline vs Durham vs Newfields
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 20.8).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
15,080Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newfields and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Brookline and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newfields 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.