What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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	Dummerston	Plaistow
People
Population	2,090Lowest	7,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Dummerston and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dummerston and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plaistow and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5% U.S.: 12.5%	4.5% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dummerston and Plaistow 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
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.