Compare towns
Northfield vs Walpole 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
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Walpole | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971 |
3,690Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Northfield 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Plaistow 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% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% 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 |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Walpole 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.