Compare towns
Gilford vs Hooksett vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilford has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 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 | Gilford | Hooksett | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830 |
15,057Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Gilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Gilford 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Hooksett School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.