What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	7,861Highest	5,837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	46.5±6Highest 20% above U.S.
	Rochester and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rochester 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%	20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester 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.	$120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S.
	Rochester 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±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.	$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,432±$743Lowest about the U.S. average
	Plaistow and Rochester 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.	$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Rochester 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%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plaistow and Rochester 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	#104 of 282 in MA
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	9.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.