Compare towns

Barrington vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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.

MeasureBarringtonHanoverHooksett
People
Population
9,489
8,479Lowest
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.7±2.3
11% below NH
21.8±0.3Lowest
50% below NH
41.3±1.5Highest
5% below NH
Hooksett and Barrington 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%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
Barrington and Hooksett 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%
17.6%±3.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Hanover 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%
NH: 40.6%
89.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9Lowest
NH: 6%
49.8%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14kLowest
11% above NH
$153,281±$26kHighest
55% above NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
Hanover and Hooksett 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
$842,600±$97kHighest
109% above NH
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
25% above NH
$2,254±$249Highest
51% above NH
$1,661±$206Lowest
11% above NH
Hanover 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
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2
NH: 48.2%
72%±17.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Barrington 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%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
NH: 72.8%
62.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above NH
19 minLowest
29% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
26.7%±6Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hanover 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 #1 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Barrington School District — Hooksett School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.