Compare towns
New Ipswich vs Plaistow vs Sandown vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Northwood has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | New Ipswich | Plaistow | Sandown | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,310 |
7,861Highest |
6,628 |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
| Northwood and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Sandown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Sandown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Northwood 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascenic Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | Mascenic Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.