Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hanover vs Ogunquit 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 the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Ogunquit | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
11,685Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Ogunquit 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. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.