Compare towns

Plaistow vs New Ipswich vs Hopkinton

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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

MeasurePlaistowNew IpswichHopkinton
People
Population
7,861Highest
5,310Lowest
6,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.1±3.7
7% below NH
36.9±2.4Lowest
15% below NH
45±2.8Highest
4% above NH
Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
29.9%±5.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.8%±4.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
17.4%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
12.3%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.9%±4.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hopkinton 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%
32.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
58.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
7.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 6%
Hopkinton 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±$13kLowest
9% above NH
$110,507±$9k
12% above NH
$137,477±$21kHighest
39% above NH
Hopkinton and New Ipswich 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
$392,400±$31kLowest
about the NH average
$506,900±$54kHighest
26% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187Highest
12% above NH
$882±$469Lowest
41% below NH
$1,270±$129
15% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,194
8% above NH
$5,647Lowest
15% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±41.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
42.4%±6Lowest
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%
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1968Lowest
11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
7% above NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
Work from home
13.6%±4
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
23.8%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hopkinton 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 #82 of 120 in NH #28 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Mascenic Regional School District Hopkinton School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Mascenic Regional High School Hopkinton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
11.7
12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.