What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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	Chester
People
Population	7,861Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Chester 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%	17.4%±4 NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester and Plaistow 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	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187 12% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Lowest 8% above NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Chester 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%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Chester and Plaistow 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	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Chester 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.