Compare towns
Hooksett vs North Hampton vs Brookline vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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 | North Hampton | Brookline | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
4,543Lowest |
5,736 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Brookline and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Brookline and North Hampton 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Hooksett 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | North Hampton School District | Brookline School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.