Compare towns
Hooksett vs Goffstown vs Plaistow vs Hampstead
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%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Goffstown | Plaistow | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
18,513Highest |
7,861Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown 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 |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% 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 | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Plaistow 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% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Goffstown High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.