Compare towns
Brookline vs Candia vs Manchester
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%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Candia | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,134Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Brookline 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 |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Brookline and Manchester 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 |
$6,100 9% below NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Brookline 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% |
1.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Candia School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.