Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dracut 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%).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Dracut | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
32,574Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dracut 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% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Dracut 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Plaistow 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dracut | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Dracut Senior High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.