Hillsborough County · Merrimack Valley

Brookline

Home to New Hampshire's Loveliest Kissing Bridge

About Brookline

Brookline is a tight-knit hillside town about twelve miles west of Nashua where neighbors still wave from their driveways and community potlucks draw a crowd. Originally granted in 1769 as Raby — named for Raby Castle by colonial Governor Wentworth — the town reinvented itself from a lumber-and-charcoal producer into a family-friendly residential community. The annual Chowder/Soup/Chili Cook-Off draws hundreds from across southern New Hampshire, and neighbors genuinely rally around each other — the kind of place where a new family gets a welcome basket within a week. Potanipo Pond anchors summer recreation, while the Andres Institute of Art on Potanipo Hill surprises visitors with over 80 monumental metal and stone sculptures spread across 140 wooded acres. The Brookline Covered Bridge, the Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary, and miles of conservation trails give the town a distinctly outdoorsy personality. For those looking to unwind after a day on the trails, Averill House Vineyard offers locally crafted wine and beer in a relaxed setting that captures the town's unpretentious spirit.

Why Brookline?

Andres Institute of Art — a free 140-acre outdoor sculpture park unlike anything in NH
Excellent Hollis-Brookline cooperative schools with above-average test scores
22 minutes to Nashua shopping and dining, 34 minutes to Manchester
Potanipo Pond, wildlife sanctuaries, and conservation trails at your doorstep
Warm, engaged community with cook-offs, fairs, and active volunteer culture

Quick Facts

Population

5,719

County

Hillsborough

Region

Merrimack Valley

School District

SAU 41

Weather in Brookline

40°F

Clear

Today

57 / 31

Sun

63 / 40

Mon

63 / 39

Map

Living in Brookline

What you need to know about making Brookline your home.

Major Employers

Hollis-Brookline School District / SAU 41Bingham LumberBrookstone BuildersTown of Brookline

Schools & Education

Part of SAU 41 with two strong Brookline elementary schools; grades 7-12 attend the well-regarded Hollis-Brookline cooperative schools with proficiency rates well above state averages.

Cost of Living

Home prices sit near the state median, but one of the higher property tax rates in the region means total housing costs require careful budgeting.

Real Estate

$586,000 median home price

$22.61 per $1,000 property tax rate

No state income or sales tax in NH

View listings in Brookline

Commute Times

65 min

Boston

22 min

Nashua

34 min

Manchester

School District

Local district

Brookline School District(SAU 41)

Grades served: PreK-6

Website

Cooperative secondary district

Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District(SAU 41)

Grades served: 7-12

Website

Students attend high school in Hollis.

Brookline serves as a district hub for students from nearby towns in this district.

District towns

Hollis

Richard Maghakian Memorial School

PK-3Elementary

Captain Samuel Douglass Academy

4-6School

Hollis Brookline Middle School

7-8Middle School

Hollis Brookline High School

9-12High School

Parks & Public Spaces

Studio at Andres Institute of ArtTown Park

Hidden Gems in Brookline

Beyond the well-known attractions, Brookline has spots that locals love and visitors rarely find.

Nissitissit Covered Bridge

year-round

A charming pedestrian-only covered bridge painted in red and white, crossing the Nissitissit River. Half of this 110-foot bridge was originally owned by a craft store in Nashua and relocated here when the store closed in 2001. Cosmopolitan Magazine even labeled it New Hampshire's 'loveliest kissing bridge.' The bridge sits on old Boston and Maine Railroad abutments once used by the Fresh Pond Ice Company.

Andres Institute of Art

year-round

New England's largest outdoor sculpture park by area, sprawling across 140 acres on a former ski mountain. More than 100 international metal and stone sculptures are scattered along 11 hiking trails through woods and meadows. The old ski lodge now hosts concerts, and visitors can watch sculptors work during the annual symposium. It's free, open dawn to dusk, and you can touch the art.

Cemetery-in-the-Woods

year-round

Brookline's oldest and most mysterious burial ground, literally hidden in the woods and dating back to 1752. This forgotten cemetery predates the town's incorporation and offers a haunting glimpse into the area's earliest settlers. Finding it requires local knowledge as it's unmarked and accessible only by woodland paths, making it a true treasure hunt for history buffs.

Lake Potanipo Beach and Lighthouse

summer

A small, picturesque lake with a sandy beach and New Hampshire's tiniest lighthouse - a charming miniature structure that looks straight out of coastal Maine but sits inland. The beach is open to residents and their guests, creating an intimate swimming spot with clear water and mountain views. Cardinal flowers bloom bright red along the shoreline in late summer.

Palmer-Bartell Forest Trail System

year-round

A hidden network of technical mountain biking and hiking trails that locals prefer over busier state parks. The main Bartell Trail connects to over a dozen side trails through deep woods, past stone walls, and alongside pristine ponds with old cabins. The trails follow old railroad grades and logging roads, offering everything from easy family walks to challenging single-track adventures.