Compare towns
Newington vs Keene vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Newington | Keene | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 939Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Keene School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
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.