Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Plainfield 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
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Hooksett | Plainfield | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057Highest |
2,522Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% 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 | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Plainfield 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Plainfield School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.