Compare towns
Barrington vs Hooksett vs Wakefield
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%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
15,057Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wakefield 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% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% 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 |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.