Compare towns
Strafford vs Hooksett vs Lee 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
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Lee | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,576 |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Lee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Lee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% 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 |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.