Compare towns
Plaistow vs Sandown vs Hampstead vs Pembroke
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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,628Lowest |
9,102Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Hampstead and Pembroke 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% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Sandown 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%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Hampstead and Sandown 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 |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% 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 | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| 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.