Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Hampstead vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Hampstead | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
9,102Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.