Compare towns
Barnet vs Hooksett vs Sharon vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Barnet | Hooksett | Sharon | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
15,057Highest |
1,577 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Barnet 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Hooksett School District | Sharon School District | — |
| 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.