Compare towns

Brockton vs Hooksett vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureBrocktonHooksettSpringfield
People
Population
105,386
15,057Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.7±0.8
6% below U.S.
41.3±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Kids under 18
25.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9
U.S.: 22%
Brockton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hooksett and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,115±$3k
about the U.S. average
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$437,500±$8kHighest
31% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
Brockton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,641±$52
16% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
Hooksett and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,820
55% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.5%±4.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #279 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH #276 of 282 in MA
School district Brockton Hooksett School District Springfield
High school in town Brockton High None in town Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
17.0Highest
—
12.2Lowest
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.