Compare towns

Brookline vs Middlesex vs Walpole vs Newfane

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).

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.

MeasureBrooklineMiddlesexWalpoleNewfane
People
Population
531Lowest
1,943
3,690Highest
1,456
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%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±10.4
20% above U.S.
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
Newfane and Walpole 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%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
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%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Newfane and Walpole 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%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
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±$16k
about the U.S. average
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
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±$37k
13% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$284,200±$49kLowest
15% 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.
$1,266±$238
10% 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.
$5,174
66% 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%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfane 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%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
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%
87.2%
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.
1971
9 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.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane and Middlesex 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — None in town None in town None in town
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.