Compare towns
Strafford vs Hooksett vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Strafford | Hooksett | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,121Highest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.