Compare towns
Amherst vs Barrington vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Amherst | Barrington | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
9,489Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Amherst and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.