What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westfield	Plaistow
People
Population	40,378Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plaistow and Westfield 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	#197 of 282 in MA	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Westfield	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Westfield High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.