Compare towns
Barrington vs Hooksett vs Merrimack
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%).
Merrimack has the most expensive homes ($459k 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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
15,057 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
| Merrimack 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Merrimack 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%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Merrimack 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% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.