Compare towns
Eliot vs Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Eliot | Hooksett | Plaistow | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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 | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.