Compare towns
Brookline vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 112% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 77% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Pelham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.