Compare towns

Plaistow vs Hooksett vs New Ipswich vs Atkinson

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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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.

MeasurePlaistowHooksettNew IpswichAtkinson
People
Population
7,861
15,057Highest
5,310Lowest
7,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.1±3.7
7% below NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
36.9±2.4Lowest
15% below NH
57.1±2.8Highest
32% above NH
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
29.9%±5.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±3.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
17.4%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
12.3%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.4%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
32.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
42.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
5.8%±4
NH: 6%
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
9% above NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$110,507±$9k
12% above NH
$146,380±$32kHighest
48% above NH
Atkinson and Hooksett 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±$26k
about the NH average
$392,400±$31kLowest
about the NH average
$555,200±$65kHighest
38% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187Highest
12% above NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$882±$469Lowest
41% below NH
$1,140±$32
24% 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
$5,647Lowest
15% below NH
$6,918
4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±41.5
NH: 48.2%
66.5%±39.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Atkinson and New Ipswich 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%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
1.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
7% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
33 minHighest
22% above NH
28 min
6% above NH
Work from home
13.6%±4
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.1%±6.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
Atkinson and Plaistow 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 #82 of 120 in NH #32 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Hooksett School District Mascenic Regional School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School None in town Mascenic Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
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11.7Highest
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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.