Compare towns
Hooksett vs Melrose 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).
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
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 | Melrose | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
29,650Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Melrose and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±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. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Melrose 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 22% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Melrose 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. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Melrose 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #62 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Melrose | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Melrose High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.