Compare towns
Barrington vs Bedford vs Goffstown vs Hooksett
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).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Barrington | Bedford | Goffstown | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
23,746Highest |
18,513 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Bedford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Goffstown 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% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Bedford and Barrington 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 |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Bedford 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #65 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Bedford School District | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Goffstown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.