Compare towns
Hooksett vs Westford 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%).
Westford has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Westford | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876 |
2,290Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Westford 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% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Westford 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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% |
52.3%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% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford 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±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Westford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 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% |
19.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westford 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.