Compare towns
Allenstown vs Plainfield vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Allenstown | Plainfield | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,743 |
2,522Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±4.7 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Allenstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Allenstown School District | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 8 photos → | 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.