Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,216Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Lancaster and Hooksett 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.