Compare towns
Plaistow vs Sandown vs Hampstead vs Atkinson
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).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Sandown | Hampstead | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,628Lowest |
9,102Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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 |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Atkinson 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | 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 | 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.