Compare towns
Barrington vs Dover vs Hooksett vs South Berwick
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 homeowners (87%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
33,364Highest |
15,057 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| 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±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Dover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Barrington and South Berwick 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and South Berwick 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barrington School District | Dover School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.