Compare towns
Barnstead vs Dunbarton vs 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 most affordable homes ($362k median).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Dunbarton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
3,097Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 13% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett 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 |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Barnstead 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 |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett 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 |
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.