Compare towns
Plaistow vs Ossipee vs Acton
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 expensive homes ($405k median).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Ossipee | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
4,521 |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Acton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Plaistow 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 34% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 22% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245Lowest 13% above U.S. |
— |
| 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 131% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Acton Public Schools |
| 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.