Compare towns
Hooksett vs Middlesex vs Calais 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Hooksett 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Calais 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. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 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 | $4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Calais 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.