Compare towns

Brewer vs Hooksett vs Ogunquit 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

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureBrewerHooksettOgunquitPlaistow
People
Population
9,652
15,057Highest
1,379Lowest
7,861
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$108,317±$13k
34% above U.S.
Hooksett and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$404,500±$32k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% 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
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$7,194Highest
131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH — #66 of 120 in NH
School district Brewer Public Schools Hooksett School District — Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Brewer High School None in town — Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
— —
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.