Compare towns
Plaistow vs Berwick vs Newton 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%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Newton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
8,175 |
4,836Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% 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. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Newton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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% |
37.9% 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% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Newton 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. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Newton 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. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Newton and Plaistow 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. |
$8,124 160% 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% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Berwick 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Sanborn 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.