Compare towns
Hollis vs Pepperell vs Brookline vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
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 | Pepperell | Brookline | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,603 |
11,663 |
5,736Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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 109% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| 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 103% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Merrimack 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and Brookline 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | — | 12.5Highest |
| 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.