Compare towns
Plaistow vs Northfield vs Sandown
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).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
4,971Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Northfield and Sandown 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%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Northfield 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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 |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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 |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.