Compare towns
Montgomery vs Hooksett vs Plainfield vs Rochester
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Montgomery | Hooksett | Plainfield | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,314 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 32% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 39% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Hooksett School District | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.