Compare towns
Barrington vs Plainfield vs Hooksett vs Goffstown
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 people working from home (18.7%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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.
| Measure | Barrington | Plainfield | Hooksett | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
2,522Lowest |
15,057 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
41.3±3.1Highest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Goffstown 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Goffstown 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.