Compare towns

Barrington vs Hooksett vs Lancaster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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 (+10.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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.

MeasureBarringtonHooksettLancaster
People
Population
9,489
15,057Highest
8,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Highest
11% above U.S.
Lancaster 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
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14kLowest
37% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
Lancaster 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
20% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
32% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Lancaster and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
128% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #65 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #145 of 282 in MA
School district Barrington School District Hooksett School District Nashoba
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.