Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Jaffrey
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 homeowners (93.6%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,448 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average |
| Jaffrey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Barnstead 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Jaffrey 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% |
31.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest 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±$12k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% 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 |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below 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 |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Jaffrey 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% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 21.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.