Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Lee 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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lee | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
15,057 |
4,576Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Lee 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 10 photos → | 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.