Compare towns
Barrington vs Castleton vs Pelham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Castleton | Pelham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
4,453Lowest |
14,449 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 20% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 128% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.