Compare towns
Plaistow vs Stratham vs Atkinson 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 renters (21.9% rent).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Stratham | Atkinson | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
7,754 |
7,267Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Stratham 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 NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Stratham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Stratham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Atkinson 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett 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 |
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.