Compare towns
Plaistow vs Eliot vs Keene vs Atkinson
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Eliot | Keene | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
7,146Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Atkinson 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.