Compare towns
Hooksett vs Reading vs Walpole 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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Reading | Walpole | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading 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. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading 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. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| 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.