Compare towns
Barnstead vs South Hooksett 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 kids (21% under 18).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | South Hooksett | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,902Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% 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%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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 |
$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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 |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and South 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 |
$6,801Highest about the NH average |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.