Compare towns
Barrington vs Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Barrington | Barnstead | Hooksett | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
4,994 |
15,057Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Barnstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest 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 | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Madbury 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barrington School District | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.