Compare towns
Hooksett vs Brookline vs Dunbarton vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Brookline | Dunbarton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,736 |
3,097Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Brookline and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Brookline and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Brookline School District | Dunbarton School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.