Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ware vs Barre 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 ($290k median).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Barre | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
10,048 |
5,572Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Barre 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Barre 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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 |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Ware | Quabbin | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.