Compare towns
Deerfield vs Brookline vs Dover vs New Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($544k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Deerfield | Brookline | Dover | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
5,736 |
33,364Highest |
6,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
| Deerfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Deerfield and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
44.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
| Brookline and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
| Brookline and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
| Brookline and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Brookline School District | Dover School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.