Compare towns
Hampstead vs Mason vs New Ipswich
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).
Mason has the most homeowners (90.7%).
New Ipswich has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Mason | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
1,451Lowest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| 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% |
28.8%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and New Ipswich 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 13% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$110,507±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Hampstead and Mason 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 |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and New Ipswich 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Mason 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 | — | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Mason School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.