Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hillsborough vs Newton 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 the shortest commute (29 min average).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Newton | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
5,980 |
4,836Lowest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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% |
16%±3 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% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newton 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±$13k 9% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
| Newton and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%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% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | 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 | 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.