What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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	Lunenburg	Plaistow
People
Population	11,902Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lunenburg and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lunenburg and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lunenburg and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Lunenburg	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.