Compare towns
Brookline vs Hooksett vs Lee vs Pelham
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).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Hooksett | Lee | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
15,057Highest |
4,576Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Lee and Pelham 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Pelham 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hooksett 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 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 |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Brookline and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.