Compare towns
Windham vs Auburn vs Worcester 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Auburn | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
6,119Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Worcester 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Auburn School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.