Compare towns

Hampton vs Plainfield vs Derry

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

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.

MeasureHamptonPlainfieldDerry
People
Population
16,426
2,522Lowest
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4%
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
38.9±6.5Lowest
10% below NH
40.3±1.6
7% below NH
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.4%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±4.5
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%
NH: 40.6%
46.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
Derry and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
$122,656±$13kHighest
24% above NH
$108,944±$7k
10% above NH
Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39kHighest
37% above NH
$442,400±$47k
10% above NH
$432,000±$17kLowest
7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
$1,674±$181Highest
12% above NH
$1,547±$138Lowest
4% above NH
Plainfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
$7,904
19% above NH
$8,103Highest
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.2%
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
22 minLowest
18% below NH
31 minHighest
16% above NH
Work from home
21.7%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton and Plainfield 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 #31 of 120 in NH #19 of 120 in NH #60 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Plainfield School District Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School None in town Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
13.9Highest
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.