Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lancaster vs Sutton 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
8,606 |
2,239Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%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% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Sutton 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 46% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Nashoba | Kearsarge Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.