Compare towns
Barrington vs Sanbornton vs Rochester 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Sanbornton | Rochester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
3,053Lowest |
33,144Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Rochester and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester 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% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton and Rochester 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% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Sanbornton 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 |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Sanbornton 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 |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above 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 |
$5,731 14% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Rochester 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
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| 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.