Compare towns
Hooksett vs Barre vs Ware vs Manchester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Barre | Ware | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
5,572Lowest |
10,048 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Manchester 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% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Manchester 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester and Hooksett 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Quabbin | Ware | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.