Compare towns
Plaistow vs Berwick vs Atkinson vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Plaistow | Berwick | Atkinson | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
8,175 |
7,267Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #32 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.