Compare towns
Plaistow vs Norwich vs Hooksett vs Hampstead
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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Norwich | Hooksett | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
3,640Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Hampstead 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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 22% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% 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 | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Norwich School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead 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 Our Story | 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.