Compare towns

Berlin vs Hooksett 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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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.

MeasureBerlinHooksettPlainfield
People
Population
2,880
15,057Highest
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
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.
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%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hooksett and Berlin 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%
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%
48.2%Highest
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%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
Hooksett and Berlin 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.
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,153±$103Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
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%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
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.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
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%
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #16 of 70 in VT #30 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Hooksett School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.