Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Townsend vs Hampstead
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 renters (21.9% rent).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Townsend | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,861Lowest |
9,100 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Townsend 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 22% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% 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. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | North Middlesex | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.