Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Mapleton vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.
| Measure | Jaffrey | Mapleton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448 |
1,884Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Jaffrey and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jaffrey and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27k 26% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202 32% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196 99% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plaistow and Mapleton 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.