Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs New Ipswich 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 most renters (21.9% rent).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | New Ipswich | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,037 |
5,310Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hopkinton 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%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hopkinton 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% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 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±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% 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±$32k about the NH average |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% 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±$129 15% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
11.7 |
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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.