Compare towns
Plaistow vs Durham vs Newton
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
15,080Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Newton 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
| Newton and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Durham and Newton 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newton 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Newton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.