Compare towns

Brookline vs Lebanon vs Milford

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 the highest household income ($171k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).

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.

MeasureBrooklineLebanonMilford
People
Population
5,736Lowest
14,999
16,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.5Highest
5% below NH
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
36.8±2.5Lowest
15% below NH
Brookline and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
57.5%
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
Lebanon and Brookline 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
73% above NH
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
$97,768±$14kLowest
about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38kHighest
35% above NH
$385,400±$29kLowest
4% below NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
$1,661±$126Lowest
11% above NH
Brookline and Lebanon 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 50% above NH
$8,149
22% above NH
$7,522Lowest
13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
Milford and Lebanon 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%
7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1980Lowest
1 yr newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
24.7%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Brookline and Lebanon 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 #29 of 120 in NH #55 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District Lebanon School District Milford School District
High school in town None in town Lebanon High School Milford High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.7Highest
10.7Lowest
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.