Compare towns
Hampstead vs Haverhill 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 people working from home (21%).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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 | Haverhill | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
67,698Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 | #243 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Haverhill High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.