Compare towns
Hooksett vs Townsend vs Plaistow vs Barrington
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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Townsend | Plaistow | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
9,100 |
7,861Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Plaistow 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.