What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainville	Hampstead
People
Population	9,943Highest	9,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S.	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S.	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainville and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampstead and Plainville 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	#102 of 282 in MA	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Plainville	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.