Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hooksett vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Plainfield | Hooksett | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.