Compare towns
Hooksett vs Candia vs Plaistow vs Allenstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k 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 | Candia | Plaistow | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,134Lowest |
7,861 |
4,743 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Allenstown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
| Candia 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 about the NH average |
$415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,281±$397 14% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$6,100 9% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Allenstown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow 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 | #41 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Candia School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Allenstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.