Compare towns
Brunswick vs Hooksett vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Brunswick | Hooksett | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
15,057Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 4% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Brunswick 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 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.