Compare towns
Hooksett vs Laconia vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton
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%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
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 | Laconia | Plainfield | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
17,085Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Laconia and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Laconia 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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Sanbornton 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% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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 |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia 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% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Laconia School District | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.