Compare towns
Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Plaistow vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | Jackson | Ogunquit | Plaistow | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 897 |
1,379 |
7,861Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$362,900±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
— | $1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Jackson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 92% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | — | 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 History | None yet | None yet | 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.