Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Plymouth vs Plaistow vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
Windsor has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hillsborough | Plymouth | Plaistow | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
6,601 |
7,861Highest |
254Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.2±18.8 7% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25.2%±14.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windsor and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.7%±8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
12.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±4.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$103,750±$40k 5% above NH |
| Plaistow and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$337,500±$40k 16% below NH |
| Plaistow and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 13% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$3,381Lowest 49% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windsor and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15%±16.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windsor and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.4 |
— |
| 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.