What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).

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	Bath
People
Population	7,861Highest	1,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	48.6±8.6Highest 12% above NH
	Bath and Plaistow 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%	21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bath and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%
	Plaistow and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH	$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average	$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,438±$309Lowest 4% below NH
	Plaistow and Bath 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	$4,413Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Bath 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%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr older than NH	1978 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 7% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	11.1%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Bath 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	Bath 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.