Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Hooksett vs Mason
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 the highest household income ($171k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Dover | Hooksett | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
33,364Highest |
15,057 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Brookline 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Brookline 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Mason 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Dover School District | Hooksett School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.