Compare towns
Hanover vs Brentwood vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Brentwood | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,641Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Brentwood and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Hanover and Brentwood 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 |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Brentwood 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Brentwood School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.