Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Hooksett 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 most kids (21% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Hooksett | Hooksett | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,876 |
15,057Highest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% 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 |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% 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% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett 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 |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,801Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Hooksett 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 | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Hooksett 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 | 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.