Compare towns
Barton vs Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Barton | Goffstown | Hooksett | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
18,513Highest |
15,057 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Wells River and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 49% below U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,941Highest 123% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Goffstown 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Goffstown High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.