What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

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	Freeport
People
Population	7,861Lowest	8,802Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow and Freeport 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%	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Freeport and Plaistow 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 34% above U.S.	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.	$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
	Freeport 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 18% above U.S.	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average
	Plaistow and Freeport 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.	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Plaistow 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%	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freeport and Plaistow 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	#4 of 133 in ME
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	RSU 05
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.