Compare towns
Plaistow vs Dorset vs Hooksett vs Atkinson
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).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Dorset | Hooksett | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
2,092Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Plaistow 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% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Atkinson 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. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below 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. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Atkinson 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Atkinson 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional 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.