Compare towns
Alton vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Alton | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Alton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.