Compare towns

Plaistow vs Hudson 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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

MeasurePlaistowHudsonHampstead
People
Population
7,861Lowest
25,557Highest
9,102
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+3.8%
NH: +4.6%
+5.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.1±3.7Lowest
7% below NH
45.7±1.9Highest
6% above NH
45.3±6.1
5% above NH
Hudson 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%
16.8%±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%±3.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.7%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
21.8%±4Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hampstead and Hudson 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%
34.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
7%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
5.1%±1.6
NH: 6%
Hudson 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
$124,213±$6kHighest
25% above NH
$112,348±$18k
13% above NH
Hudson 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
$438,900±$11k
9% above NH
$521,100±$45kHighest
29% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187
12% above NH
$1,735±$123Highest
16% above NH
$1,299±$149Lowest
13% below NH
Hudson 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
$6,636Lowest
about the NH average
$8,634Highest
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.3%±16.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
34.3%±7.2Lowest
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%
4.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
7% above NH
31 minHighest
18% above NH
30 min
13% above NH
Work from home
13.6%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.6%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
21%±4.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hampstead and Hudson 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 #63 of 120 in NH #49 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Hudson School District Hampstead School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Alvirne High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
11.6Highest
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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.