Compare towns
Hooksett vs Needham vs Stoneham 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).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
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 | Needham | Stoneham | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Stoneham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barrington 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 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 |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Needham | Stoneham | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.