Compare towns
Kingston vs Brookline vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Newton has the shortest commute (30 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 | Kingston | Brookline | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Highest |
5,736 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
| Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Brookline and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
| Brookline and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| Brookline and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Newton 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Brookline School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.