Compare towns
Sandown vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Pelham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
14,449Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Pelham 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% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Pelham and Sandown 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Pelham 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 |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% 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 |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Sandown 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Pelham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.