Compare towns
Hooksett vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Shirley | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Shirley and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Hooksett 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. |
$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above 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. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Ayer Shirley 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 |
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.