Compare towns
Plaistow vs Milton 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Milton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
356Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
56.5±11.3Highest 30% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.1%±13.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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% |
13.2%±14.3Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
16.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
8.7%±14.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Milton 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 |
$48,125±$21kLowest 51% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| 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±$32k about the NH average |
$240,400±$53kLowest 40% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,245±$212Lowest 16% below 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 | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$3,517Lowest 47% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
85.1%±34.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton 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% |
9.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
66.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1941Lowest 38 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.1%±14.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | — | 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.