Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hooksett vs Chester
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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Chester 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Plainfield 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District | Chester 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.