Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hingham 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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Hingham | Hooksett | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
24,283Highest |
15,057 |
7,267Lowest |
| 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% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hingham 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% |
76.2%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% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Atkinson 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. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below 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. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Hingham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% 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. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as 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 |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| 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% |
21.1%±6.3 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 | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hingham | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.