Compare towns
Brookline vs Groton vs Hanson vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Groton | Hanson | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
11,390Highest |
10,660 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Brookline 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% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Groton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanson 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Townsend 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Whitman Hanson Regional | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7 |
14.7Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.