Compare towns

Atkinson vs Hampstead vs Plaistow vs Haverhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

MeasureAtkinsonHampsteadPlaistowHaverhill
People
Population
7,267Lowest
9,102
7,861
67,698Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
40.1±3.7
3% above U.S.
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
14.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,380±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
$108,317±$13k
34% above U.S.
$88,326±$4kLowest
9% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$555,200±$65kHighest
67% above U.S.
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
$404,500±$32kLowest
22% above U.S.
$453,900±$9k
36% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
$1,668±$49Highest
18% above U.S.
Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,918
122% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$7,194
131% above U.S.
$4,772Lowest
53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9
U.S.: 51.1%
60.2%±5.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
7% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson and Hampstead 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 #32 of 120 in NH #49 of 120 in NH #66 of 120 in NH #243 of 282 in MA
School district Timberlane Regional School District Hampstead School District Timberlane Regional School District Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town None in town None in town Timberlane Regional High School Haverhill High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4Lowest
12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 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.