Compare towns

Derry vs Hampton vs Plainfield

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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).

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.

MeasureDerryHamptonPlainfield
People
Population
34,116Highest
16,426
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.3±1.6
7% below NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
Kids under 18
20.7%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.4%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Plainfield 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%
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±4.5
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%
NH: 40.6%
46.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
Derry and Plainfield 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
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
$122,656±$13kHighest
24% above NH
Plainfield 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±$17kLowest
7% above NH
$550,200±$39kHighest
37% above NH
$442,400±$47k
10% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,547±$138Lowest
4% above NH
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
$1,674±$181Highest
12% above NH
Plainfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,103Highest
22% above NH
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
$7,904
19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±9
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.2%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
26 min
3% below NH
22 minLowest
18% below NH
Work from home
16%±2.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
Hampton and Plainfield 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 #31 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH
School district Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Pinkerton Academy Winnacunnet High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.9Highest
10.1Lowest
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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.