Compare towns
Northwood vs Plaistow vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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.
| Measure | Northwood | Plaistow | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,688Lowest |
7,861Highest |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Northwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$421,000±$33kHighest 5% above NH |
| Deerfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
| Plaistow and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$7,369Highest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Northwood 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
34 min 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.