Compare towns
Plaistow vs Wolfeboro vs Salem
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,571Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Salem 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
| Salem and Plaistow 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 |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Salem 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 about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Salem 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Salem 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.