Compare towns
Kingston vs Plaistow vs Weare
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
7,861 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Weare 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±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare and Plaistow 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Plaistow and Weare 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.