Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs Plymouth vs Sandown
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 the oldest population (median age 45).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hopkinton | Plymouth | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
6,037Lowest |
6,601 |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Sandown 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%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Sandown 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Hopkinton 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
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.