What stands out worked out from the figures below

Claremont has the most affordable homes ($205k median).

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Claremont	Plaistow
People
Population	13,078Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±3.5Highest about the NH average	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH
	Claremont and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Claremont and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	34.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Plaistow and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,096±$8kLowest 40% below NH	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$204,600±$17kLowest 49% below NH	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,146±$83Lowest 23% below NH	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,774Lowest 13% below NH	$7,194Highest 8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.6%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%	55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Claremont and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 22 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	8.6%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Claremont 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	#103 of 120 in NH	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Claremont School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Stevens High School	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.