Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Hooksett vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Waitsfield | Hooksett | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
5,876Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield 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 | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.