Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Falls vs Derry vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Hampton Falls | Derry | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,328Lowest |
34,116Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hampton Falls School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.