Compare towns
Plaistow vs Norwich vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Norwich | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
3,640Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Norwich 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Atkinson 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. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Norwich 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 |
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.