Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hudson vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Hudson | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
25,557Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hudson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hudson 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 NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Hampstead 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 |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hudson 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 29% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Hudson and Plaistow 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 |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hudson School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Alvirne High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.