Compare towns
Brookline vs Epping vs Middlesex vs Putney
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Epping | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
7,430Highest |
1,943 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Epping and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Epping and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.