Compare towns
Plaistow vs Francestown vs New Ipswich
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Francestown | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
1,398Lowest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plaistow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| New Ipswich 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 about the NH average |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
| Francestown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Plaistow and Francestown 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 |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.