Compare towns

Hampton Falls vs Plaistow vs Hillsborough

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Hillsborough 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.

MeasureHampton FallsPlaistowHillsborough
People
Population
2,328Lowest
7,861Highest
5,980
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
40.1±3.7Lowest
7% below NH
40.9±4.6
6% below NH
Hampton Falls and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±4.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Plaistow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34.9%
NH: 40.6%
23.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1Highest
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Hampton Falls and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
$108,317±$13k
9% above NH
$84,495±$12kLowest
15% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
$404,500±$32k
about the NH average
$272,300±$16kLowest
32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,852±$475Highest
24% above NH
$1,664±$187
12% above NH
$1,198±$390Lowest
20% below NH
Hampton Falls and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$7,194
8% above NH
$5,815Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.2%±22.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±23.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hillsborough and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.5%
NH: 7.2%
6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
21% above NH
29 minLowest
7% above NH
41 minHighest
54% above NH
Work from home
21.8%±4.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Falls and Hillsborough 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 — #66 of 120 in NH #97 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton Falls School District Timberlane Regional School District Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Timberlane Regional High School Hillsboro-Deering High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Highest
9.5Lowest
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.