Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield vs Hollis 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Hollis | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,522Lowest |
8,603 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hollis 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Plainfield School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8Lowest |
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.