Compare towns
Plaistow vs Jaffrey vs Barrington
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).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
5,448Lowest |
9,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| 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%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Jaffrey 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% |
18.5%±3.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barrington 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 |
$110,323±$14kHighest 11% above NH |
| Barrington 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±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Barrington 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 |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Barrington 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.