Compare towns
Acton vs Barrington vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Acton | Barrington | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
9,489 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #65 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District |
| 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 |
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.