Compare towns
Hampstead vs Lee vs Plaistow vs Hooksett
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Lee | Plaistow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
4,576Lowest |
7,861 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Lee and Hooksett 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Lee 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 |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.