Compare towns
Plaistow vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Reading | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
25,612Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Plaistow 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% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Reading 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson 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±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Reading and Atkinson 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. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Reading and Plaistow 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. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Atkinson 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Reading | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.