Compare towns
Brookline vs Hollis vs Townsend vs Windham
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 homeowners (95.1%).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Hollis | Townsend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
8,603 |
9,100 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 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±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$675,900±$48k 103% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Windham and Brookline 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.