Compare towns
Hooksett vs Chester vs Plaistow vs South Hooksett
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%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Chester | Plaistow | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,300Lowest |
7,861 |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Chester and South 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 |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Plaistow 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | 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 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.