Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex 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
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,943 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Brookline 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain Regional 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.