Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lee vs Candia 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Hooksett | Lee | Candia | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,576 |
4,134Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Lee and Candia 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Lee and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Candia School District | Barrington 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 | 10 photos → | 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.