Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach vs Hooksett 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
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,605Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 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+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hooksett 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±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampstead 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Hooksett School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.