Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hooksett vs Hampstead
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 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±$47k 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Plainfield 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% 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 | $7,904 19% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District |
| 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 |
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.