Compare towns
Hampstead vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hampstead | Middlesex | Brattleboro | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,943Lowest |
12,122 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.