Compare towns
Hampstead vs Lebanon 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
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Hampstead and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Hampstead and Plainfield 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 |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
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| 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.