Compare towns
Plaistow vs Strafford vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Strafford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
1,372Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Strafford 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Strafford 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.