What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Plaistow	Milford
People
Population	7,861Lowest	16,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH
	Plaistow and Milford 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%	23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Milford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1%	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Plaistow and Milford 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%	37.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6%
	Milford 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±$13kHighest 9% above NH	$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average
	Plaistow and Milford 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	$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average
	Plaistow and Milford 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	$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH
	Plaistow and Milford 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	$7,522Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Milford 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%	3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 7% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Milford 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	#55 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Milford School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Milford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.7Lowest
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.