Compare towns
Hampstead vs Plaistow vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
7,861 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.