Compare towns
Plaistow vs Keene 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
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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.
| Measure | Plaistow | Keene | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
22,939Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Keene School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.