Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plainfield vs Hampton 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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Plainfield | Hampton | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
2,522Lowest |
10,101 |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Plainfield 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampton and Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,654±$93Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Hampton 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Plainfield School District | — | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.