Compare towns
Plymouth vs Plaistow vs Walpole
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).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Plaistow | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601 |
7,861Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Plaistow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Walpole 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Plymouth 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.