Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Alton 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).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Alton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
15,057Highest |
5,994 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest 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%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Alton and Strafford 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford 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 |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 24% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.