Compare towns
Barrington vs Hooksett vs Rochester
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Hooksett | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
5,876Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester 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% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester 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% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Rochester 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kHighest 11% above NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Barrington 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±$30kHighest about the NH average |
$348,100±$32k 14% below NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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 |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% 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 | $7,121Highest 7% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.