Compare towns
Plaistow vs Berwick vs Hampstead 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 renters (21.9% rent).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Berwick | Hampstead | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
8,175 |
9,102 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Hampstead 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% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% 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 | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.