Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs Ashland
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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Hopkinton | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
6,037 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton and Ashland 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% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
— |
| 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.