Compare towns
Hooksett vs Proctor vs Highgate vs Plaistow
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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% 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 | Proctor | Highgate | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,794Lowest |
3,528 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Plaistow 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$108,317±$13k 34% 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. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% 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±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above 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. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest 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% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.8 |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.