Compare towns
Plaistow vs Weare vs Windham 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).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
9,170 |
16,038Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Weare 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%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 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% |
62.7%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% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| 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%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%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 |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.