Compare towns
Plaistow vs Madbury vs Hooksett
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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Madbury | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
2,203Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plaistow 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Madbury 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±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Madbury 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 |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.