Compare towns
Barre vs Hooksett vs Williamstown
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
15,057Highest |
3,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Williamstown 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% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Hooksett 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% |
17.6%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% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Williamstown 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. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Barre 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamstown and Barre 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 | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Hooksett School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.