Compare towns
Chester vs Plaistow 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
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Chester | Plaistow | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
7,861 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Chester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Chester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Chester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.