Compare towns
Plaistow vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
6,571 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plaistow and Wolfeboro 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 9% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| New Ipswich 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±$32k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.