Compare towns
Barton vs Hooksett vs Brighton vs Orleans
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Hooksett | Brighton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,167 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Orleans 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$156,300±$18k 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.