Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plainville vs Wrentham
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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Wrentham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Plainville | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
9,943Lowest |
12,297 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
46.8±3.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wrentham and Plainville 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% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wrentham and Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$151,676±$17kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$654,900±$26kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,184±$628Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,373Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Hooksett 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wrentham and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Plainville | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.