What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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	Dudley
People
Population	7,861Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	40.2±2.4Highest 3% above U.S.
	Dudley 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 U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley 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 U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plaistow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.	$392,600±$19kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Dudley 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.	$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plaistow and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.