Compare towns
Plaistow vs Haverhill vs Newton 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 affordable homes ($405k median).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k 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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Haverhill | Newton | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
67,698Highest |
4,836Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Newton 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 34% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Newton 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. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,668±$49 18% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Newton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Newton 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% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Newton 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 | #243 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Haverhill High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
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| 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.