Compare towns
Barnstead vs Barrington vs South Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Barnstead | Barrington | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
9,489Highest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Barnstead and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Barrington and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,121Highest 7% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Barrington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.