Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hooksett vs Sandown vs Pembroke
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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Sandown | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
15,057Highest |
6,628Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke 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% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Pembroke 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| 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.