Compare towns
Durham vs South Hooksett vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | South Hooksett | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,902Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
38.7±2.3Highest 11% below NH |
| Barrington and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barrington and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Barrington 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.