Compare towns
Hooksett vs Acton vs Marblehead vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Hooksett | Acton | Marblehead | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
24,155Highest |
20,413 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Acton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Acton-Boxborough | Marblehead | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.