Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Hooksett vs Manchester
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Hooksett | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,876 |
15,057 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Barnstead and Hooksett 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% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead 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% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,922 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Barnstead 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.