Compare towns
Brookline vs Exeter vs Norwich
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 most homeowners (95.1%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 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 | Exeter | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
16,151Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Norwich 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.