Compare towns
Plaistow vs Topsham vs Ogunquit 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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Topsham | Ogunquit | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,706Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Topsham 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 34% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 22% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%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. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Mt Ararat High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.