Compare towns
Plaistow vs Eliot vs Keene 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
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Eliot | Keene | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
7,146Lowest |
22,939Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Eliot 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.