Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hampstead vs Haverhill vs New Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% 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 | Hampstead | Haverhill | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,102 |
67,698Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1 about the U.S. average |
36.9±2.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
29.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Haverhill 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,507±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and New Ipswich 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
$392,400±$31kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S. |
$882±$469Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Haverhill 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$5,647 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±41.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Ipswich and Haverhill 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 | #243 of 282 in MA | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Haverhill High | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.