Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Barrington vs Hudson
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).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Barrington | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,861Lowest |
9,489 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington 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%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$438,900±$11kHighest 9% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Barrington and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Barrington School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.