Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hillsborough vs New Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Hillsborough | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
5,980 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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±$13k 9% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.