What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).

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	Franklin
People
Population	7,861Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	42.7±2Highest about the NH average
	Franklin 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%	17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Franklin 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Plaistow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH	$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$4,886Lowest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Franklin 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%	7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Franklin 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	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	16.2Highest
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.