Compare towns
Barnard vs Hooksett vs Waitsfield
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%).
Waitsfield has the shortest commute (25 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 | Barnard | Hooksett | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%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% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Hooksett 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. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% 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% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.