What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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	Hartford
People
Population	7,861Lowest	10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S.
	Hartford 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 U.S.: 22%	18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow and Hartford 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%	22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hartford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hartford 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.	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.	$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Hartford 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%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Hartford School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	9.6Lowest
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.