Compare towns
Hampstead vs Ogunquit vs Wells 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Wells 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Wells 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| 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.