Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Lee vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Lee | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
15,057Highest |
4,576 |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±5.1 4% 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% |
20.8%±6 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%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest 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±$11k 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% 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±$75 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,239±$182Lowest 17% 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 | $6,003 10% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% 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% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8%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 |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest 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 | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.