Compare towns
Plaistow vs Ossipee vs Meredith 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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Ossipee | Meredith | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
4,521Lowest |
6,758 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Meredith and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% 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 |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Meredith and Hooksett 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 |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.