Compare towns
Brookline vs Exeter vs Stowe
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
16,151Highest |
5,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Stowe 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%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% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% 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% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% 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 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Stowe 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 | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.