Compare towns
Berlin vs Hooksett vs Middlesex vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Berlin | Hooksett | Middlesex | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
15,057Highest |
1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.