Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs Plymouth 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
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Hopkinton | Plymouth | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,037Lowest |
6,601 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead 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% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older 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 |
22 min 17% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
12.8Highest |
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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.