Compare towns
Barre vs Hooksett vs Blackstone vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Barre | Hooksett | Blackstone | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
15,057Highest |
9,255 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #207 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Hooksett School District | Blackstone-Millville | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.