What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	7,861Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S.	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plaistow and Worcester 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%	35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.	$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Worcester 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.	$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Worcester 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%	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plaistow and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.