Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Hooksett vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% 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 | South Hooksett | Hooksett | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902Highest |
5,876 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Hooksett and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801Highest about the NH average |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.