Compare towns
Hooksett vs Manchester vs Windham 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 the oldest population (median age 41.3).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Manchester | Windham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
115,643Highest |
16,038 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Hooksett and Windham 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%±1 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Windham 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Windham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.