Compare towns
Northfield vs Plaistow vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Northfield | Plaistow | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Lowest |
7,861 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Weare 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±$13k 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare and Plaistow 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 |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Plaistow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| 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.