Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield vs Dunbarton
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Plainfield | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Plainfield 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Brookline and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Plainfield School District | Dunbarton 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.