Compare towns

Hollis vs Brookline vs Pepperell vs Milford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Milford has the most renters (35.1% rent).

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.

MeasureHollisBrooklinePepperellMilford
People
Population
8,603
5,736Lowest
11,663
16,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.4±5Highest
27% above U.S.
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
36.8±2.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±4
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.1%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$168,883±$22k
109% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
$97,768±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$675,900±$48kHighest
103% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$398,800±$20kLowest
20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,598±$302
13% above U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,661±$126
18% above U.S.
Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,698Lowest
115% above U.S.
$7,522
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±19.5
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Milford and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
29%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hollis 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 #8 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH #153 of 282 in MA #55 of 120 in NH
School district Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District Brookline School District North Middlesex Milford School District
High school in town Hollis-Brookline High School None in town None in town Milford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Highest
— —
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.