Compare towns
Bath vs Hooksett vs Plaistow vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Bath | Hooksett | Plaistow | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath and West Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.