Compare towns
Ayer 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
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Ayer | Barrington | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,489 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest 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 | $101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$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 | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 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 | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 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 | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Barrington 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.