Compare towns
Plaistow vs Barre vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Plaistow | Barre | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
8,412 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Barre and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.