Compare towns
Barnard vs Hooksett vs Bridgewater vs Calais
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 (+10.6%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Bridgewater | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
15,057Highest |
980Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Calais 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Calais 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. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Calais 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Calais 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hooksett School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.