Compare towns
Barre vs Hooksett vs Brandon
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
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 | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
15,057Highest |
4,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brandon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 52% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Hooksett School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.