Compare towns
Barrington vs Hooksett vs Lee vs Strafford
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 (+10.6%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Lee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,057Highest |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Lee 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Lee 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Lee 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Lee and Strafford 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Lee and Strafford 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 |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,635±$246Lowest 10% above 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.