Compare towns
Brookline vs Lyme vs Windham 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 the most homeowners (95.1%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Lyme | Windham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
1,710Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lyme 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. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% 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. |
$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% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Lyme School District | Windham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Lowest |
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.