Compare towns
Plymouth vs Keene vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Keene | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Keene School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Keene High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.