Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Kingston vs Plaistow vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
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 | Hopkinton | Kingston | Plaistow | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,037Lowest |
6,275 |
7,861Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8 4% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Kingston 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.