Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Plaistow vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Plaistow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
7,861 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 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+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% 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 | $508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Hampton Beach and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% 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 | $6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| 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.