Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs Weare 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
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Weare | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,037Lowest |
9,170Highest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Weare and Hopkinton 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% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$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±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Weare 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% 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 |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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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.