Compare towns
Lee vs Brookline vs Hooksett vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Lee | Brookline | Hooksett | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
15,057Highest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Brookline and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.