Compare towns
Townsend vs Atkinson 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
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Townsend | Atkinson | Hooksett | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,267 |
15,057Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% 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 | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Atkinson 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.