Compare towns
Hooksett vs Waitsfield 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%).
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (19%).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Waitsfield | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876 |
1,918Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Plaistow 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%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%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Waitsfield 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. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% 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. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Plaistow 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. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$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. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Waitsfield 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield and Hooksett 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.