Compare towns

Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Ogunquit vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadHooksettOgunquitStrafford
People
Population
4,994
15,057Highest
1,379Lowest
4,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
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
38% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
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
9% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$427,900±$29k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
—
$1,635±$246
16% above U.S.
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
92% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #111 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH — #73 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Hooksett School District — Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.