Compare towns
Hooksett vs Windham vs Putney 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 the most renters (27.5% rent).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.
| Measure | Hooksett | Windham | Putney | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
594Lowest |
2,622 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Windham 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. |
— | $508±$482Lowest 64% 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. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Putney 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% 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. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.