Compare towns
Plaistow vs Northwood 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Northwood | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
4,688Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Northwood 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% |
38.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Northwood 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±$13k 9% above NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Northwood 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 |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% 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 |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Kingston 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.5 |
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.