Compare towns
Plaistow vs Braintree 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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Braintree | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
1,026Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Braintree 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.