Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Webster 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
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Hopkinton | Webster | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,037Highest |
2,227Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
| Brookline and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Webster 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 |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.