Compare towns
Hampstead vs Haverhill vs Plaistow vs Sandown
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
67,698Highest |
7,861 |
6,628Lowest |
| 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% |
+9.4% 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. |
40.8±3.7 5% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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% |
34.1% 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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Sandown 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 57% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$483,400±$44k 45% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Sandown 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. |
$1,668±$49 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown and Haverhill 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest 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. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandown 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 | #243 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Haverhill High | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.