Compare towns
Hampstead vs Plaistow vs Derry vs Sandown
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 the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Plaistow | Derry | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
7,861 |
34,116Highest |
6,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Hampstead and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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±$18k 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown 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±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Hampstead and Sandown 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 |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.