Compare towns
Plaistow vs Somersworth vs Hooksett vs New Ipswich
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 people working from home (13.6%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Somersworth | Hooksett | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
12,111 |
15,057Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and New Ipswich 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$392,400±$31k 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 |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below 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 |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District | Hooksett School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.