Compare towns

Plaistow vs Hooksett vs Jaffrey

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 renters (21.9% rent).
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.

MeasurePlaistowHooksettJaffrey
People
Population
7,861
15,057Highest
5,448Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.1±3.7Lowest
7% below NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
42.9±3.9Highest
about the NH average
Jaffrey and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.1%±5.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
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
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.5%±3.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Jaffrey and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%
NH: 40.6%
39.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
31.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,317±$13k
9% above NH
$117,962±$11kHighest
19% above NH
$92,330±$18kLowest
7% 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
$245,500±$27kLowest
39% 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±$206
11% above NH
$962±$202Lowest
35% below 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
$6,196Lowest
7% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
45.7%±23
NH: 48.2%
Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
81.8%Highest
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 minHighest
7% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
25 minLowest
8% below NH
Work from home
13.6%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
7.5%±4.2Lowest
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 #87 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Hooksett School District Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School 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

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.