Compare towns
Plaistow vs Plymouth vs Hopkinton 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
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Plymouth | Hopkinton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,601 |
6,037Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above 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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.0 |
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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.