Compare towns

Barrington vs Hooksett vs Stoneham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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%).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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.

MeasureBarringtonHooksettStoneham
People
Population
9,489Lowest
15,057
23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Highest
8% above U.S.
Stoneham 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
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14kLowest
37% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
Hooksett and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
20% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
32% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
Stoneham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121Highest
128% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$6,523Lowest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Barrington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham 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 #117 of 282 in MA
School district Barrington School District Hooksett School District Stoneham
High school in town None in town None in town Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.