Compare towns

Plaistow vs Hingham 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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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.

MeasurePlaistowHinghamHooksett
People
Population
7,861Lowest
24,283Highest
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hingham 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%
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,317±$13kLowest
34% above U.S.
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$404,500±$32kLowest
22% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,194
131% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Plaistow 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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.6%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #66 of 120 in NH #14 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Hingham Hooksett School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Hingham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.9Highest
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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.