Compare towns
Plaistow vs Wolfeboro 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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hooksett | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,571Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 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 |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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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.