Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hooksett vs Wallingford vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Hardwick | Hooksett | Wallingford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965 |
15,057Highest |
2,286 |
1,855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Barnet 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Hooksett School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.