Compare towns
Hampstead vs Windham vs Sandown
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Windham | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,038Highest |
6,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
| Hampstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Sandown 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$483,400±$44kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,893±$721 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.