Compare towns
Barrington vs Hooksett vs Nelson
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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,057Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Barrington 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Hooksett and Barrington 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #65 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | Nelson School District |
| 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 |
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.