Compare towns

Brookline vs Dummerston vs Hancock

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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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.

MeasureBrooklineDummerstonHancock
People
Population
531Lowest
2,090Highest
1,791
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7Lowest
16% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
53.8±4.5Highest
38% above U.S.
Hancock and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hancock and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$95,208±$15k
18% above U.S.
Dummerston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$436,700±$22kHighest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,208±$650Lowest
15% below U.S.
Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
32.4%±55.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.