Compare towns
Rye vs Pepperell 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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.
| Measure | Rye | Pepperell | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
11,663Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest 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 | $140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.