Compare towns
Hampstead vs Merrimac 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 people working from home (21%).
Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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 | Merrimac | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
6,748Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 39% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Plaistow 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Pentucket | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.