Compare towns

Brookline vs Bristol vs Hollis

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k 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.

MeasureBrooklineBristolHollis
People
Population
5,736
3,273Lowest
8,603Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+6.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
42.7±5.7
about the NH average
49.4±5Highest
14% above NH
Hollis and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
24.3%±6.4
NH: 18.2%
21%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
23.2%±4.9
NH: 20.1%
23.3%±4.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hollis and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
35.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
57.3%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.6%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Brookline and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
$78,438±$10kLowest
21% below NH
$168,883±$22k
71% above NH
Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
$258,300±$63kLowest
36% below NH
$675,900±$48kHighest
68% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
$1,310±$97Lowest
12% below NH
$1,598±$302
7% above NH
Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$4,162Lowest
38% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±14.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.3%±19.5
NH: 48.2%
Bristol and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
69.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above NH
28 min
4% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
11.8%±5.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
29%±6.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hollis 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 #23 of 120 in NH #79 of 120 in NH #8 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District Newfound Area School District Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Newfound Regional High School Hollis-Brookline High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Lowest
11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.