Compare towns
Gorham vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Gorham | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,682Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | 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 | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.