Compare towns
Windham vs Dracut 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
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
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 | Windham | Dracut | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
32,574Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Dracut | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.