Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ware vs Hardwick 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Ware | Hardwick | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,369 |
2,684Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hardwick 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% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barrington 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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above 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. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% 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. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 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 |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Quabbin | 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 | 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.