Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Sturbridge | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
9,960 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Hooksett 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. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% 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. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.