Compare towns
Sandown vs Dunbarton 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
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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 | Sandown | Dunbarton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628 |
3,097Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sandown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Sandown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Dunbarton School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.