Compare towns
Merrimack vs Brookline vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Merrimack | Brookline | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
5,736Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Brookline and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
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| 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.