Compare towns
Plaistow vs Northfield vs Kingston
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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Northfield | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
4,971Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Kingston 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 |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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 |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston 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 12% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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 |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kingston 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.