Compare towns
Barrington vs Chester 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 most kids (23.7% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Chester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
5,300Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Chester 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±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
— | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% 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 |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Chester School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.