Compare towns
Plaistow vs Plymouth vs Hillsborough 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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Hillsborough | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,601 |
5,980Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hillsborough 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 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% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% 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 |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% 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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% 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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hillsborough 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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| 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.