Compare towns
Plaistow vs Rollinsford vs Somersworth 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
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Rollinsford | Somersworth | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
2,626Lowest |
12,111Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% 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% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Somersworth 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% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Rollinsford 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% 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 |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851 about the NH average |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Rollinsford School District | Somersworth School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.