Compare towns
Barnstead vs Manchester vs South Hooksett
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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Manchester | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
115,643Highest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
38±1 12% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Manchester 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% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South 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 |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Manchester and South Hooksett 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,801Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Manchester and Barnstead 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 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.