Compare towns
Goffstown vs Exeter vs 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
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Goffstown | Exeter | Hooksett | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
16,151 |
15,057 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Exeter and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.