Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hillsborough vs Plymouth vs Atkinson
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
5,980Lowest |
6,601 |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson 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±$32k about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,140±$32 24% 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 |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.