Compare towns

Plaistow vs Hillsborough vs Eliot

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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasurePlaistowHillsboroughEliot
People
Population
7,861Highest
5,980Lowest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
40.9±4.6
5% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Hillsborough 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%
17.4%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plaistow and Hillsborough 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%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plaistow and Hillsborough 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.
$84,495±$12kLowest
5% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$404,500±$32k
22% above U.S.
$272,300±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
$1,198±$390Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Plaistow 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.
$5,815
86% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hillsborough 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%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
41 minHighest
55% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
13.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Eliot and Hillsborough 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 #97 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME
School district Timberlane Regional School District Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Hillsboro-Deering High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
9.5Lowest
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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.