Compare towns
Brookline vs Exeter vs White River Junction
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 kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
16,151Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest 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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% 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% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and White River Junction 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.