Compare towns

Plaistow vs Springfield 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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

MeasurePlaistowSpringfieldAtkinson
People
Population
7,861
9,084Highest
7,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±3.7Lowest
3% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±3.8Lowest
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%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Atkinson and Springfield 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%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
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±$13k
34% above U.S.
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below U.S.
$146,380±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
Atkinson 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.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
$555,200±$65kHighest
67% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187Highest
18% above U.S.
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,140±$32
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,194Highest
131% above U.S.
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
$6,918
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
Work from home
13.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson and Springfield 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 #32 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
14.3Highest
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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.