Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex vs Newfields
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Middlesex | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943 |
2,023Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Newfields 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Newfields 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.