Compare towns
Hooksett vs Windsor vs Plainfield vs Pelham
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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Windsor | Plainfield | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,554 |
2,522Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Pelham 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% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Pelham 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Plainfield 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. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield 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. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Plainfield 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Plainfield School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.