Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hingham vs Mashpee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Hingham | Mashpee | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
24,283Highest |
15,384 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
55.9±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$95,299±$13kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$562,200±$29k 69% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,776±$330 26% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,762Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #100 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hingham | Mashpee | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Mashpee Middle-High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.6Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.