Compare towns
Brookline vs Exeter vs Middlesex
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Exeter | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brookline 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brookline 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.