Compare towns
Brookline vs Hanover vs Newmarket
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
11,685Highest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newmarket 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.