Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Goffstown 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
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 | Goffstown | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,861Lowest |
18,513 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Goffstown 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% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% 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 |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$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±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
| Hudson and Plaistow 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 |
$6,941 4% 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% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown 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% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%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 |
1982 3 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 |
28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Goffstown 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Goffstown School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Goffstown High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.