Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Wolfeboro
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 kids (21% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% 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±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% 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 |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hooksett 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.