Compare towns
Brookline vs Rye vs Windham
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Rye | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
5,611Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Windham 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Rye 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Rye and Windham 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
— |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Rye School District | — |
| High school 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.