Compare towns
Hooksett vs Brighton 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
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 | Hooksett | Brighton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876 |
1,167Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960 59% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | — | Brighton 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 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.