What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).

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	Northfield
People
Population	7,861Highest	4,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average
	Northfield 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 NH: 18.2%	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield 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%	17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Plaistow and Northfield 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 NH: 40.6%	23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Northfield 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	$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH
	Plaistow and Northfield 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	$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$5,097Lowest 24% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 7% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Northfield 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	#109 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Winnisquam Regional School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.