Compare towns
Kingston vs Plaistow vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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 | Kingston | Plaistow | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
7,861Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Kingston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Walpole and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
| Kingston and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% 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 | $7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.