Compare towns
Plaistow vs Newfields vs Exeter vs Atkinson
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 affordable homes ($405k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Newfields | Exeter | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
2,023Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Exeter 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
| Newfields and Atkinson 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 |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Exeter 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Atkinson 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.