Compare towns
Brookline vs Rye vs Exeter 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 the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Rye | Exeter | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Townsend 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.