Compare towns

Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Lee 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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.

MeasureGoffstownHooksettLeeBarrington
People
Population
18,513Highest
15,057
4,576Lowest
9,489
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±3.1
5% below NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
42.9±1.9Highest
about the NH average
38.7±2.3Lowest
11% below NH
Lee 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%
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Barrington and Lee 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%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Lee 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%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
50.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.5%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
5.3%±1.9Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,958±$12k
15% above NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$131,579±$54kHighest
33% above NH
$110,323±$14kLowest
11% above NH
Lee and Hooksett 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
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$480,600±$61kHighest
19% above NH
$399,100±$30k
about the NH average
Lee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,231±$161Lowest
17% below NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
—
$1,867±$194Highest
25% above NH
Barrington and Hooksett 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
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
$9,661Highest
45% above NH
$7,121
7% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.1%±20
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
63.1%±25.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Barrington and Goffstown 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%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
3 yrs newer than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
28 min
about the NH average
30 minHighest
13% above NH
Work from home
13.8%±2.2
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
Lee 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 #30 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH #65 of 120 in NH
School district Goffstown School District Hooksett School District Oyster River Coop School District Barrington School District
High school in town Goffstown High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
— — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 10 photos → 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.