Compare towns

Brookline vs Rye vs Hooksett

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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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.

MeasureBrooklineRyeHooksett
People
Population
5,736
5,611Lowest
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
55.1±3Highest
27% above NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±5.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
61.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2
NH: 6%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
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
$140,655±$39k
42% above NH
$117,962±$11kLowest
19% above NH
Brookline and Rye 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
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
155% above NH
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
$1,781±$156
19% above NH
$1,661±$206Lowest
11% above NH
Brookline and Rye 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
$7,519
13% above NH
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.3%±16.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
Rye 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%
6.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
85.5%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1972Lowest
7 yrs older than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above NH
29 min
8% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
30.9%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District Rye School District Hooksett 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.