What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).

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	Wakefield
People
Population	7,861Highest	5,405Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Wakefield 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%	18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Wakefield 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 NH: 40.6%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Plaistow and Wakefield 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 9% above NH	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average
	Plaistow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH
	Plaistow and Wakefield 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	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield 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	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Wakefield School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.