Compare towns

Stratham vs Henniker vs Brookline vs Hopkinton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureStrathamHennikerBrooklineHopkinton
People
Population
7,754Highest
6,197
5,736Lowest
6,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+13%
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
41.2±1.5
5% below NH
45±2.8Highest
4% above NH
Hopkinton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.8%±4.1
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.9%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
Stratham and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
58.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2
NH: 6%
7.9%±4.4
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20k
53% above NH
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
$137,477±$21k
39% above NH
Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
$506,900±$54k
26% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$2,500±$1k
68% above NH
$1,270±$129
15% below NH
Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781
47% above NH
$8,877Lowest
33% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
42.4%±6
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
NH: 7.2%
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.5%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
64.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1968Lowest
11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
20 minLowest
24% below NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
22 min
17% below NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
23.8%±8.8
NH: 16.8%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH #28 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Henniker School District Brookline School District Hopkinton School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Hopkinton High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
12.0
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.