Compare towns
Brookline vs Hooksett vs Townsend vs Mason
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).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Townsend | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
15,057Highest |
9,100 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Brookline 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Brookline 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Mason 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.