Compare towns
Brookline vs Holbrook vs Ashby vs Lee
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%).
Holbrook has the most renters (16% rent).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Holbrook | Ashby | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
11,380Highest |
3,211Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lee 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% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Ashby 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% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Lee 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. |
$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lee 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. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Ashby 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. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook and Lee 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.