Compare towns
Plaistow vs Holderness vs Durham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Holderness | Durham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
1,917Lowest |
15,080Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Durham 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 |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plaistow 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% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.