Compare towns
Brookline vs Hanover vs Newfields 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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Newfields | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
11,685Highest |
2,023Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Brookline 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Townsend 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanover 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% 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% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.