What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).

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	Ossipee
People
Population	7,861Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	50±4.6Highest 15% above NH
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Ossipee 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%	26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Ossipee 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Plaistow and Ossipee 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	$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH
	Plaistow and Ossipee 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	$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,601±$245Lowest 7% above NH
	Plaistow and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$4,401Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ossipee 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%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 120 in NH	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Governor Wentworth 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 History	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.