Compare towns
Townsend vs Hooksett vs Windham 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
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 | Windham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
15,057 |
16,038Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Brookline 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% |
15.5%±2.6 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
| Windham and Brookline 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
| Windham and Brookline 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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% 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. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above 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% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Windham School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.