Compare towns
Brewer vs Gardiner vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Brewer | Gardiner | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
6,088Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42±3.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Gardiner and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardiner and Hooksett 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #36 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Gardiner Area High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.8Lowest |
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| 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.