Compare towns
Weare vs Hopkinton vs Plaistow vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Weare | Hopkinton | Plaistow | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
6,037 |
7,861 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Plaistow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hopkinton School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.