Compare towns
Milford vs Derry 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
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Milford | Derry | Brookline | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
34,116Highest |
5,736Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 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 | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.