Compare towns
Hooksett vs Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Worcester
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876Highest |
1,943 |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% 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% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.