Compare towns
Weare vs Northfield 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
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Northfield | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
4,971Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Weare and Northfield 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% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Northfield 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% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Weare 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 |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% 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 | $6,272 6% below NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #84 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 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.