Compare towns
Brookline vs Stratham vs Brentwood 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%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Brentwood has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Stratham | Brentwood | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
7,754 |
4,641Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
43.8±3.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brentwood and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$165,509±$23k 105% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Brentwood 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. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$528,100±$75k 59% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,217±$654 57% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brookline 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$9,713 211% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Brentwood School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 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.