Compare towns

Hingham vs Hooksett vs Plaistow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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.

MeasureHinghamHooksettPlaistow
People
Population
24,283Highest
15,057
7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Hingham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$108,317±$13kLowest
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$404,500±$32kLowest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$7,194
131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
33.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH #66 of 120 in NH
School district Hingham Hooksett School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Hingham High None in town Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.