Compare towns
Plaistow vs Swanzey 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).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Swanzey | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
7,398Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Plaistow 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% 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 |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% 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 |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.