Compare towns
Plaistow vs Deering vs Hampstead vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Deering | Hampstead | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
1,938Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Deering 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Deering 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% NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown 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 about the NH average |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Hampstead and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,223Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.