Compare towns
Barrington vs Mason 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489 |
1,451Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Barrington 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% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Mason 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 |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| 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±$194 25% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Mason and Barrington 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 |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 |
| School district | Barrington School District | Mason School District | Hooksett 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.