Compare towns
Plaistow vs Worcester 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Worcester | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
207,055Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%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% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below 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±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below 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. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.