Compare towns
Atkinson vs Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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 | Atkinson | Hooksett | Plaistow | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.