Compare towns
Barnstead vs Dracut vs Hooksett vs Gilmanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
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 | Dracut | Hooksett | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
32,574Highest |
15,057 |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±4.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Dracut 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$117,088±$9k 45% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$363,700±$42k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,125±$421Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,235 100% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.