Compare towns

Milford vs Newmarket vs Lyndeborough vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureMilfordNewmarketLyndeboroughBrookline
People
Population
16,337Highest
9,463
1,616Lowest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+1.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.8±2.5Lowest
15% below NH
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
50±3.2Highest
15% above NH
41.2±1.5
5% below NH
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.1%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
49.7%
NH: 40.6%
40.1%
NH: 40.6%
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
Brookline and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,768±$14kLowest
about the NH average
$100,845±$13k
about the NH average
$116,964±$17k
18% above NH
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$455,000±$22k
13% above NH
$390,900±$26kLowest
about the NH average
$544,400±$38kHighest
35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$126
11% above NH
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
$1,482±$457Lowest
about the NH average
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
Brookline and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,522
13% above NH
$8,734
31% above NH
$7,133Lowest
7% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
48.9%±90
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Milford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%
NH: 7.2%
4.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
52.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.4%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
28 min
6% above NH
39 minHighest
46% above NH
33 min
25% above NH
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Brookline and Newmarket 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 #55 of 120 in NH #39 of 120 in NH — #23 of 120 in NH
School district Milford School District Newmarket School District Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Brookline School District
High school in town Milford High School Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
9.9Lowest
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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.