Compare towns
Hampstead vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
154,749Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| 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±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Springfield | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.