Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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 | Derry | Hampstead | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.