Compare towns
Plaistow vs Brookline vs Atkinson
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Brookline | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
5,736Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Atkinson 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Brookline and Atkinson 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 |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Brookline and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Atkinson 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Brookline 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.