Compare towns
Barnard vs Hooksett vs Hooksett vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Barnard | Hooksett | Hooksett | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
5,876 |
15,057Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,960 59% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school 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.