Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs Hampstead vs Kingston
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).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Hopkinton | Hampstead | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,037Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston 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% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Hampstead 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 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Hopkinton 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 about the NH average |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Hampstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.