Compare towns
Hampstead vs Plaistow vs Kingston vs Hooksett
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 most people working from home (21%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Plaistow | Kingston | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
7,861 |
6,275Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kingston 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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 NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Kingston 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±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.