Compare towns
Townsend vs Hooksett vs Durham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.
| Measure | Townsend | Hooksett | Durham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
15,057 |
15,080Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Durham 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. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Durham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.