Compare towns
Durham vs Brookline vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Brookline | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,736Lowest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Brookline and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Hopkinton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.