Compare towns
Marshfield vs Lancaster vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
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 | Marshfield | Lancaster | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
3,216Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79 20% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Marshfield 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.