Compare towns
Brookline vs Hooksett vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
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 | Brookline | Hooksett | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266Highest |
15,057Lowest |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 76% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$150,701±$5kHighest 87% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 275% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$933,800±$23k 181% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 101% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,082±$76 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$9,604 208% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Hooksett School District | Arlington |
| High school in town | Brookline High | None in town | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.