Compare towns
Hooksett vs Merrimack 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%).
Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Merrimack | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
28,164Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Merrimack and Plaistow 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 |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.