Compare towns
Manchester vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
Towns like ManchesterNashua
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
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 | Manchester | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 115,643Highest |
5,876Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
42.6±2Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,922 11% below NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Manchester Memorial High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.