What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Brookline
People
Population	1,101Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wayne and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S.	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.
	Brookline and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wayne and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wayne 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	—	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 38	Brookline School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.