Compare towns
Plaistow vs Middlesex vs Hooksett vs Atkinson
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 renters (21.9% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
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 | Middlesex | Hooksett | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
1,943Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| 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 22% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 131% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.