Compare towns
Brookline vs Halifax vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 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 | Halifax | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
847 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Walpole 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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±$16k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Walpole 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Halifax School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.