Compare towns
Plaistow vs Jaffrey vs Atkinson
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).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Jaffrey | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
5,448Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Jaffrey 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% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson 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 |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson 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 |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,140±$32 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
21.3Highest |
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| 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.