Compare towns
Hooksett vs Madbury vs Plainfield vs South Hooksett
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%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Madbury | Plainfield | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Madbury and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and South 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.