Compare towns
Barrington vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Pelham
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).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Epping | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
7,430 |
5,876Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Pelham 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Pelham 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Epping School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.