Compare towns
Cheshire vs Hampton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Brookfield has the youngest population (median age 52.4).
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.
| Measure | Cheshire | Hampton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
16,426Highest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.5 38% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #274 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Hoosac Valley High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.