Compare towns
Hampstead vs Sandown vs Pelham vs Derry
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Sandown | Pelham | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
6,628Lowest |
14,449 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hampstead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Pelham 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham 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 13% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Pelham and Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| 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±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pelham School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.