Compare towns
Hooksett vs Nahant 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Nahant | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,325Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,762±$6k 40% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,777±$334Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,615 112% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nahant 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Nahant | 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 History | 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.