Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield vs Auburn
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 kids (26.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
1,314Lowest |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Auburn 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Auburn 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Auburn 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | — | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.