Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Hooksett vs Brewer vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Ellsworth | Hooksett | Brewer | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
15,057Highest |
9,652 |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$74,508±$12k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Surry 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Brewer Public Schools | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.