Compare towns
Brookline vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Brentwood
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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Brentwood has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Pelham | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
4,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Brentwood 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
| Brookline and Brentwood 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% 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 |
$2,217±$654 49% above NH |
| Brookline and Brentwood 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 |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Brentwood 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% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Brentwood 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.