Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Hooksett vs Sheldon vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Bakersfield | Hooksett | Sheldon | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
15,057Highest |
2,267 |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 23% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bakersfield and Hooksett 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Hooksett School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.