Compare towns

Hooksett vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k 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.

MeasureHooksettWestminsterPlaistow
People
Population
5,876
2,999Lowest
7,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2
10% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plaistow and Westminster 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%
27.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster 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%
46.3%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%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Westminster 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.
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below 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±$32k
5% above U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
$404,500±$32kHighest
22% above U.S.
Plaistow 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.
$916±$126Lowest
35% 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
$4,960
59% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
$7,194Highest
131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46%±20.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plaistow and Westminster 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%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%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.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #53 of 70 in VT #66 of 120 in NH
School district — Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town — Bellows Falls Union High School Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6Lowest
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.