Compare towns
Hooksett vs Chester vs Barrington vs Allenstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k median).
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 | Chester | Barrington | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,300 |
9,489 |
4,743Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
39.4±4.7 9% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
80.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | Barrington School District | Allenstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.