Compare towns
Hooksett vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Wakefield | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
27,793Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Plaistow 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%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%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% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Hooksett 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. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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 26% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.