What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Allenstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

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	Plaistow	Allenstown
People
Population	7,861Highest	4,743Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH	39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH
	Plaistow and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Allenstown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1%	16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Plaistow and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH	$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average	$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH
	Plaistow and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$4,098Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Allenstown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	80.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 7% above NH	24 minLowest 10% below NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Allenstown 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	#66 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Allenstown School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	None in town
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.