Compare towns
Barrington vs Madbury vs Stratham vs Hooksett
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 affordable homes ($399k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Madbury | Stratham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
2,203Lowest |
7,754 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Stratham 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Barrington 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.