Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Royalton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,861 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 22% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.