Compare towns
Plaistow vs Lee vs Newton
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Lee | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
4,576Lowest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Plaistow 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Newton 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
| Newton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Lee and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Lowest 12% above NH |
— | $1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newton 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.