Compare towns
Barrington vs Methuen vs Hooksett
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 people working from home (18.7%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Methuen | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Lowest |
53,475Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Methuen 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Methuen | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.