Compare towns
Barrington vs Brookline vs Hooksett vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Barrington | Brookline | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
5,736Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Brookline and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Pelham 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.