Compare towns
Plaistow vs Eliot vs Hooksett vs Jaffrey
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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Eliot has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Plaistow | Eliot | Hooksett | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
7,146 |
15,057Highest |
5,448Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Jaffrey 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18kLowest 14% 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,196 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Plaistow 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 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hooksett School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 21.3Highest |
| 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.