Compare towns

Newton vs Plaistow vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureNewtonPlaistowWindham
People
Population
4,836Lowest
7,861
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
47.8±5.7Highest
10% above NH
40.1±3.7Lowest
7% below NH
41.1±2.9
5% below NH
Newton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±3.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Plaistow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
NH: 40.6%
34.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
Newton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$138,487±$29k
40% above NH
$108,317±$13kLowest
9% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$459,500±$18k
14% above NH
$404,500±$32kLowest
about the NH average
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$96
13% above NH
$1,664±$187Lowest
12% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,124
22% above NH
$7,194Lowest
8% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±41.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.5%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above NH
29 minLowest
7% above NH
31 minHighest
15% above NH
Work from home
18.1%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Windham and Newton 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 #70 of 120 in NH #66 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Sanborn Regional School District Timberlane Regional School District Windham School District
High school in town None in town Timberlane Regional High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.8Highest
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.