Compare towns

Gorham 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

Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureGorhamHooksettOgunquitPlaistow
People
Population
18,300Highest
15,057
1,379Lowest
7,861
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.1±3.7
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±2.5
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+
44.3%
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
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$108,317±$13kLowest
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
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$404,500±$32kLowest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
—
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
Gorham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,194Highest
131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
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 #24 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH — #66 of 120 in NH
School district Gorham Public Schools Hooksett School District — Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Gorham High School None in town — Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
— —
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.