Compare towns
Plaistow vs Kingston vs New Ipswich vs Jaffrey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Kingston | New Ipswich | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
6,275 |
5,310Lowest |
5,448 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
35.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Kingston 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 |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
| New Ipswich 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Kingston and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$962±$202 35% below NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9 |
11.7 |
21.3Highest |
| 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.