Compare towns
Hooksett vs Needham vs Concord 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).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Concord has the most people working from home (36.1%).
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 | Needham | Concord | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
32,459Highest |
18,223 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Concord 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22k 142% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Needham and Concord 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. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Concord and Needham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above 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%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Plaistow 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 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 |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Concord and Needham 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 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Needham | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Concord Carlisle High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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.