Compare towns
Barrington vs Hooksett vs Rochester vs Pelham
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%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Rochester | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
15,057 |
33,144Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% 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 |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Rochester and Pelham 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% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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±$30k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% 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% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.