Compare towns
Hampstead vs Litchfield vs Mason
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%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Litchfield | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
8,499 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
43.1±1.7Lowest about the NH average |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Litchfield 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% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Litchfield 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 |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Litchfield 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 |
$2,138±$406 43% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Litchfield 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 |
$8,273 24% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Litchfield 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% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Litchfield School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.