Compare towns
Plaistow vs New Boston 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 affordable homes ($405k median).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | New Boston | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,165Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% 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%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and New Boston 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 |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | New Boston School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.