Compare towns
Brookline vs Pembroke vs Pittsfield
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%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Pembroke | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
7,438Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
41.5±5.1 4% below NH |
| Pembroke and Pittsfield 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% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Pittsfield and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Pittsfield 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 |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
68.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Pembroke School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
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| 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.