Compare towns
Andover vs Hooksett vs Chester 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
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Andover | Hooksett | Chester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
15,057Highest |
2,992 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.