Compare towns
Plaistow vs Salem vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Salem | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
30,964Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Salem 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 9% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Salem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
— |
| Plaistow and Salem 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Salem High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.