Compare towns
Plaistow vs Weare vs Hooksett vs Hampstead
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).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Hooksett | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
9,170 |
15,057Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Weare and Hampstead 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hampstead 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Weare and Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% 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 | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 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 |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Hampstead 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
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| 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.