What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

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	Springfield
People
Population	7,861Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S.
	Springfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow and Springfield 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%	23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plaistow and Springfield 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.	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.	$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Springfield 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%	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield 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	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.3Highest
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.