Compare towns
Hooksett vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
27,793Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Wakefield 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%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Barrington 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. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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 |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.