Compare towns
Hampstead vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Hampstead | Dedham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
25,237Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #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 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.