Compare towns
Barrington vs Dover vs Henniker 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dover | Henniker | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
33,364Highest |
6,197Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Barrington 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Barrington 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 |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Dover 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,661±$206 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Dover School District | Henniker School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.