Compare towns
Brookline vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton 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 the highest household income ($171k).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,605Lowest |
10,101Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Townsend 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hampton 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | — | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.