Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach 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
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
2,605 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Plainfield 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 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hampton Beach 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.