Compare towns
Brookline vs Strafford 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 people working from home (24.7%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 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 | Strafford | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,306Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Strafford 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.