Compare towns
Barrington vs Dover vs New Boston 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 affordable homes ($399k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Hooksett has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
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 | New Boston | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
33,364Highest |
6,165Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and New Boston 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% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| New Boston and Dover 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,181 23% 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% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Dover School District | New Boston 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.