Compare towns
Hooksett vs Mapleton vs Windham 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Mapleton | Windham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
1,884Lowest |
16,038Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Plaistow 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Plaistow 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.