What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	7,861Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe 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%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe 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%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe 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%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plaistow and Stowe 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.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Stowe 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.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Stowe 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.	$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Stowe 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%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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	—
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.