Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ripton vs Chester 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 most renters (19.4% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Ripton | Chester | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below 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% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Ripton 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.