Compare towns
Boxford vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Boxford | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208 |
15,057Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford 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 | #34 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.