Compare towns
Hampstead vs Plainville vs Derry
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%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Plainville | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
9,943 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plainville 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% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Derry 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Derry 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. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plainville 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. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Derry 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Plainville | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.