Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hooksett vs Jaffrey vs New Ipswich
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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Jaffrey | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
15,057Highest |
5,448 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| 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%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Jaffrey 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| 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±$202 35% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% 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 |
$6,196 7% below NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%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 |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 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 | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 21.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.