Compare towns
Plaistow vs Freeport 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 affordable homes ($405k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Freeport | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
8,802 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$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±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Freeport 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. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Freeport 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. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 05 | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.