Compare towns
Hampstead vs Castleton 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
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Hampstead | Castleton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
4,453Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below 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 | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.