Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hampstead vs Kingston
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Hampstead 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%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±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±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Hampstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Plainfield and Kingston 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Hampstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.