Compare towns
Hooksett vs Barnard vs Middlesex 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 (+10.6%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Barnard | Middlesex | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,943 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Barnard 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 | Hooksett School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.