Compare towns
Brookline vs Hooksett vs Lyme
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 most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
15,057Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Hooksett 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.