What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampstead	Salisbury
People
Population	9,102Highest	1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH	51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH
	Salisbury 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%	20.1%±9.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hampstead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Salisbury 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%	37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH	$111,591±$17kLowest 13% above NH
	Hampstead and Salisbury 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	$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH	$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH
	Salisbury and Hampstead 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	$5,859Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampstead and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salisbury 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	—
School district	Hampstead School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.