Compare towns
Brookline vs Keene vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Keene | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Brookline and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson 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 68% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Atkinson 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Keene School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.