Compare towns
Hooksett vs Gray 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%).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | Gray | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
8,429Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Gray 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Gray 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. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above 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±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Gray 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. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
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.