What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Northfield	Plaistow
People
Population	4,971Lowest	7,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH
	Northfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Plaistow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	34.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Northfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH
	Plaistow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Lowest 24% below NH	$7,194Highest 8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Northfield 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	#109 of 120 in NH	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Winnisquam Regional School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.