Compare towns
Plaistow vs Weare vs Durham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Weare | Durham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
9,170 |
15,080Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Weare and Hooksett 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Durham and Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% 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 | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Durham 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.