Compare towns
Barrington vs Durham vs Litchfield 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Durham | Litchfield | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,080Highest |
8,499Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.1±1.7Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Litchfield 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Barrington 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Durham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Litchfield and Barrington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Litchfield and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Litchfield School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Campbell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.