Compare towns
Hampstead vs Mapleton vs Meredith vs Plaistow
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 most expensive homes ($521k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Mapleton | Meredith | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,758 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Meredith 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.