Compare towns
Worcester vs Hooksett vs Brookline vs Middlesex
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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Brookline has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Worcester | Hooksett | Brookline | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
15,057Highest |
531Lowest |
1,943 |
| 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% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% 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 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 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 | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below 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 | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.