Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hooksett vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Hooksett | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
15,057Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
— |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 | — |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | 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 |
NH 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.