What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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	Westfield
People
Population	7,861Lowest	40,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S.	39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Plaistow and Westfield 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%	18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow and Westfield 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%	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westfield 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%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.	$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.	$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.	$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Westfield 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%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plaistow and Westfield 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	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Westfield
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.9Highest
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.