Compare towns

Plaistow vs Kingston vs Haverhill vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% rent).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).

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.

MeasurePlaistowKingstonHaverhillHooksett
People
Population
7,861
6,275Lowest
67,698Highest
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±3.7
3% above U.S.
55.5±5.7Highest
43% above U.S.
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Haverhill 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
U.S.: 17.2%
24.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Kingston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,317±$13k
34% above U.S.
$105,330±$12k
30% above U.S.
$88,326±$4kLowest
9% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
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±$32kLowest
22% above U.S.
$492,900±$58kHighest
48% above U.S.
$453,900±$9k
36% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
Kingston and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
$1,393±$156Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,668±$49Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,194
131% above U.S.
$7,906Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,772Lowest
53% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±46.4
U.S.: 51.1%
60.2%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.6%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Kingston 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 #78 of 120 in NH #243 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Sanborn Regional School District Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Hooksett School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Sanborn Regional High School Haverhill High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.9Highest
12.5
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U.S. 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.