Compare towns
Barnstead vs Rochester vs Hooksett vs Alton
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).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
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 | Rochester | Hooksett | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
33,144Highest |
15,057 |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
| Alton 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 |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above 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 |
$5,334 20% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.