Compare towns
Putney vs Middlesex vs Hooksett vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Putney | Middlesex | Hooksett | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,943 |
15,057Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.