Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hampstead vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Plainfield | Hampstead | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
9,102 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Hampstead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hampstead 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hampstead School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.