Compare towns
Hooksett vs Marblehead vs Needham 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%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Marblehead | Needham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
20,413 |
32,459Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%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% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Needham 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. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Needham and Marblehead 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. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 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. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Marblehead | Needham | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | Needham High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.