Compare towns
Hooksett vs Kingston vs Sandown vs Plaistow
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%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Kingston | Sandown | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,275Lowest |
6,628 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sandown 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 |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Kingston and Sandown 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 |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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 |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 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.