Compare towns
Durham vs Hooksett vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hooksett | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
15,057Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
| Brookline and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Brookline School District |
| High school 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.