Compare towns
Hooksett vs Topsham 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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Topsham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
999Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$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. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% 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. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% 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. |
$4,006Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham 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% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Waits River Union High District #36 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.