Compare towns

Hampstead vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

MeasureHampsteadWaynePelham
People
Population
9,102
1,101Lowest
14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
55.6±5.3Highest
43% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
Wayne 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%
13.4%±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%
29.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wayne 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%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Wayne 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
39% above U.S.
$93,194±$26kLowest
15% 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.
$362,800±$29kLowest
9% above U.S.
$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.
$983±$554Lowest
30% 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.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1Lowest
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%
7.9%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.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Wayne 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 — #48 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District RSU 38 Pelham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.4
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.