Compare towns
Danville vs Hooksett vs Barnstead vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danville has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Danville | Hooksett | Barnstead | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,531 |
15,057Highest |
4,994 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42±4 3% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,104±$21k 16% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,600±$26kHighest 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Danville and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Danville and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,504Highest 28% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.2%±61.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 30% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #40 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Barnstead School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.