Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs South Berwick
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,861 |
3,381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%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% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% 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. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above 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±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plaistow 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. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.