Compare towns
Plaistow vs Somersworth vs Newton vs Haverhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Somersworth | Newton | Haverhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
12,111 |
4,836Lowest |
67,698Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1 about the U.S. average |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Haverhill and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Somersworth and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4k 9% above U.S. |
| Newton 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±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$459,500±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
| Newton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,668±$49 18% above U.S. |
| Newton and Haverhill 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. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Haverhill 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% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH | #243 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School | None in town | Haverhill High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.