Compare towns
Hampstead vs Peru vs Ripton 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Peru | Ripton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 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% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Peru and Ripton 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. |
$400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Ripton 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Ripton 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 | — | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.