Compare towns
Brookline vs Stratham vs Swanzey
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%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
7,754Highest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Stratham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.