Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hillsborough vs Sandown vs Hampstead
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Hillsborough | Sandown | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
5,980Lowest |
6,628 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hillsborough 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% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 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% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| 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±$32k about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% 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 |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Hillsborough 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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| 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.