Compare towns
Newington vs Brookline vs Eliot vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Newington | Brookline | Eliot | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
5,736 |
7,146 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795 62% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Durham 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Brookline School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.