Compare towns
Wayne vs Brookline vs Leeds
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Leeds has the most affordable homes ($258k 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 | Wayne | Brookline | Leeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
5,736Highest |
2,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.2±8.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
30.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Leeds and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Leeds and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$85,208±$14kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$257,800±$27kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$940±$461Lowest 33% below 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 | $3,289 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,565Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.1%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leeds and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±3.8Lowest 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 | RSU 52/MSAD 52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.