Compare towns

Hooksett vs Candia vs Brookline

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).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).

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.

MeasureHooksettCandiaBrookline
People
Population
15,057Highest
4,134Lowest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
+2.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
48.3±3.8Highest
12% above NH
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
12.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
23.1%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Candia and Hooksett 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%
27.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
5.7%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2
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±$11kLowest
19% above NH
$119,737±$37k
21% above NH
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
$415,600±$46k
3% above NH
$544,400±$38kHighest
35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,213±$554Lowest
19% below NH
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554
about the NH average
$6,100Lowest
9% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±21.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5
NH: 48.2%
Hooksett and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
34 minHighest
29% above NH
33 min
25% above NH
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
10.8%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #41 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Candia School District Brookline School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.