Compare towns

Hooksett vs Berlin 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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.

MeasureHooksettBerlinPlaistow
People
Population
15,057Highest
3,378Lowest
7,861
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plaistow and Hooksett 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%
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$121,336±$12kHighest
50% above U.S.
$108,317±$13kLowest
34% above U.S.
Berlin and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$404,500±$32kLowest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
Berlin and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$7,116
128% above U.S.
$7,194Highest
131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±19.7
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plaistow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #61 of 282 in MA #66 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Berlin-Boylston Timberlane Regional School District
High school 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

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.