What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).

North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Plaistow	North Berwick
People
Population	7,861Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	41.6±4.7Highest 7% above U.S.
	North Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Berwick 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Berwick 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 34% above U.S.	$101,875±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Plaistow and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.	$428,500±$33kHighest 29% above U.S.
	North Berwick 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 18% above U.S.	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Berwick 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Berwick 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 133 in ME
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.