Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hooksett vs Brookline vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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.
| Measure | Dunbarton | Hooksett | Brookline | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,736 |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 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 | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Brookline and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% 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 | $8,233 23% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Weare 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District | Brookline School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.