Compare towns
Barrington vs Hooksett vs Rochester vs New Boston
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).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,057 |
33,144Highest |
6,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
| 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% 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 | $7,121 7% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.