Compare towns
Brookline vs Townsend vs Wakefield
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%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Townsend | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
9,100Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Townsend 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Brookline 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Wakefield 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | North Middlesex | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.