Compare towns
Plaistow vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Springfield | Hooksett | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
9,084 |
15,057Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest 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. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Springfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 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. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older 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. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.