Compare towns
Hampstead vs Readfield vs Pelham
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 renters (17.9% rent).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Readfield | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,651Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 39% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 8% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Pelham 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | RSU 38 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.