Compare towns
Barrington vs Barnstead vs Hooksett vs New Boston
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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
4,994Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 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% |
44.4%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% |
3.6%±3Lowest 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 |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
| New Boston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below 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 |
$8,181Highest 23% 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% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Barrington 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 | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | New Boston 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.