Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hampstead vs Haverhill vs Sandown
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).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Hampstead | Haverhill | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,102 |
67,698Highest |
6,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.7 5% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Sandown 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| 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±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
$483,400±$44k 45% above U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,668±$49 18% above U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Haverhill 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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% 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% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% 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% |
82.5%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 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #243 of 282 in MA | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Haverhill High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.