Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Sunapee
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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,861 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sunapee 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 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.