Compare towns
Atkinson vs Plaistow vs Weare vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Atkinson | Plaistow | Weare | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
7,861 |
9,170Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 48% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Atkinson and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| 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 24% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Plaistow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Atkinson 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
— |
| 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.