Compare towns
Acton vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Acton | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
15,057 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Acton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.