Compare towns
Deerfield vs Brookline vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 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 | Deerfield | Brookline | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
5,736 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Hartford 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 63% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 27% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Brookline School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.