Compare towns

Westminster vs Barnstead 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

Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasureWestminsterBarnsteadBrookline
People
Population
497Lowest
4,994Highest
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnstead and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
$111,660±$12kHighest
38% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Barnstead and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
$362,400±$25kHighest
9% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Barnstead and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
$6,003Highest
92% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT #111 of 120 in NH —
School district — Barnstead School District —
High school 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.