Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sandown vs Barrington vs South Hooksett
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%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Sandown | Barrington | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,628 |
9,489 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Hooksett and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Sandown and South 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 |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Sandown and South Hooksett 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 |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Sandown and Barrington 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 |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Barrington 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Barrington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.