Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Hampstead vs South Hooksett
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).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Hampstead | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,861 |
9,102 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead 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 | 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.