Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Merrimack 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%).
Merrimack has the most expensive homes ($459k median).
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 | Hooksett | Merrimack | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513 |
15,057 |
28,164Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%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 |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett 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% |
50.2%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% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,867±$194 25% above NH |
| Merrimack and Barrington 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 |
$7,345Highest 10% 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% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
3%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% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest 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% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.