Compare towns

Windham vs Worcester 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

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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.

MeasureWindhamWorcesterHooksettBrookline
People
Population
594
831
15,057Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% 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
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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 — — #30 of 120 in NH —
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Hooksett School District —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
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.