Compare towns
Hampstead vs Reading vs Plaistow
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Reading | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
25,612Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Reading and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.