Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton vs Hooksett 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
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hooksett | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,426Highest |
15,057 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.