Compare towns
Hooksett vs Needham 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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
32,459Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% 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% |
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% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Needham | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.