Compare towns
Brooks vs Hooksett vs Mars Hill vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Waldo has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Brooks | Hooksett | Mars Hill | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
15,057Highest |
1,398 |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mars Hill and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$1,843 41% below U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waldo and Brooks 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Hooksett School District | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.