Compare towns
Hooksett vs Windham vs Dunstable 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Windham | Dunstable | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
16,038Highest |
3,408Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Dunstable 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dunstable 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dunstable 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. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Windham 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dunstable 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 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 |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Dunstable 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #4 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Windham School District | Groton-Dunstable | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.