Compare towns
Plaistow vs Williston 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 most affordable homes ($405k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Williston | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
10,144Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above 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±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Williston and Plaistow 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.