Compare towns
Hooksett vs North Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
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 | North Reading | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
15,765Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and North Reading 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% |
56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| North Reading 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. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| North Reading 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. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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 |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | North Reading | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.