Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Plaistow vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hampton Beach | Plaistow | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
7,861Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Plaistow and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Plaistow and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.