Compare towns
Brookline vs New Castle vs Rye
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%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Rye has the shortest commute (29 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 | New Castle | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
827Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye 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% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Rye 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 73% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
| New Castle 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±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Brookline 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | New Castle School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.