Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs New Ipswich vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | New Ipswich | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
6,037 |
5,310Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Kingston 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 |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Kingston 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 |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Kingston 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
11.7 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.