What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Strong
People
Population	5,736Highest	1,249Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S.
	Strong and Brookline 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%	19.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Strong 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%	22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Strong 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.	$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.	$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.	$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Strong 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%	13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.5%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Strong 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	—
School district	Brookline School District	RSU 58/MSAD 58
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.