Compare towns
Plaistow vs Berwick vs Atkinson vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Berwick | Atkinson | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
8,175Highest |
7,267 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #32 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Timberlane Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.