Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hanover vs Hooksett vs Strafford
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 kids (21% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Hooksett | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
11,685 |
15,057Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Hanover and Strafford 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.