What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).

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	Hopkinton	Plaistow
People
Population	6,037Lowest	7,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45±2.8Highest 4% above NH	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH
	Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.8%±4.3Highest 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%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hopkinton and Plaistow 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%	34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH	$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above 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	$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$7,194Lowest 8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2%	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hopkinton 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	#28 of 120 in NH	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Hopkinton School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Hopkinton High School	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	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.