Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hanover 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%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
South Hooksett has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Plaistow | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
11,685 |
7,861 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%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% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Timberlane Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.