Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hampstead vs Sandown vs Newton
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 most affordable homes ($405k median).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
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 | Sandown | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,102Highest |
6,628 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
| Newton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| Sandown and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Newton 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 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 | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | 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.