Compare towns
Plaistow vs Auburn vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Plaistow | Auburn | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
6,119Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Auburn and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Auburn and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Auburn School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.