Compare towns
Barrington vs Exeter vs Hampstead 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Exeter | Hampstead | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
16,151Highest |
9,102Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Hampstead 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Barrington and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Exeter 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.