Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Plainfield 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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Plainfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
15,057Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Plainfield 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±$206 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,904Highest 19% above 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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Plainfield School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.