Compare towns
Brookline vs Hooksett vs Worcester vs Westminster
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 most kids (20% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Worcester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
15,057Highest |
831 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below 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 | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Worcester 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.