Compare towns
Plaistow vs Weare vs Atkinson vs New Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Weare | Atkinson | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,170Highest |
7,267 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
| Atkinson and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,140±$32 24% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Plaistow and Weare 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 |
$6,272 6% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Atkinson 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.