Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Allenstown
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%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k 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 | Plaistow | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,861 |
4,743Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Allenstown 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% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Allenstown 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Allenstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.