Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Plymouth 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
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hillsborough | Plymouth | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980Lowest |
6,601 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.