What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plaistow	Jaffrey
People
Population	7,861Highest	5,448Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average
	Jaffrey and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Jaffrey 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%	18.5%±3.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Jaffrey 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH	$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH
	Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average	$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$6,196Lowest 7% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	45.7%±23Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	81.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 7% above NH	25 minLowest 8% below NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Jaffrey 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	#87 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	21.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.