Compare towns
Hampstead vs Plainfield vs Lee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Lee 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Hampstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Lee 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% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.