Compare towns
Hampstead vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Meredith | Plaistow | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
6,758Lowest |
7,861 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%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% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| 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 13% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.