Compare towns
Hollis vs North Hampton vs Brookline vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Hollis | North Hampton | Brookline | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,603 |
4,543Lowest |
5,736 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±5 14% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
| Hollis and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Brookline and North Hampton 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 |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Amherst and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Brookline School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.