Compare towns
Groton 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
Groton has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Groton | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 507Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±16.2Highest 18% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Groton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 29.4%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,625±$21kLowest 14% 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 | $269,000±$45kLowest 33% 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 | $2,667±$295Highest 79% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,873Lowest 57% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±83.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Groton and Plaistow 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.